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Brooklyn Naval Hospital

Brooklyn Naval Hospital

“Old United States Naval Hospital”

The Brooklyn Naval Hospital is a two-story Greek Revival structure and was the third building ever landmarked by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Location: Near 63 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn, New York
People: Martin E. Thompson
Organizations: New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, United States Navy
Places: Brooklyn Navy Yard Historic District; Brooklyn, New York
Above: Brooklyn Naval Hospital | Photo Courtesy of the National Library of Medicine

The Old United States Naval Hospital, located within the Brooklyn Navy Yard, was designed by Martin E. Thompson and is an example of the Greek Revival style.[1] Construction started in 1830 and the hospital was completed in 1838.[2] The exterior was clad in Tuckahoe marble from New York state.[3] In the 1850s the hospital site grounds expanded to include a gatehouse, laboratory and cemetery.[4] The building is a rare example of early institutional structures in the United States.[5] After seeing four wars, the hospital was decommissioned in 1948 and the entire Navy Yard Shut down in 1964.[6] Today, the hospital is within the National Brooklyn Navy Yard Historic District and is being considered as the location for the new media headquarters of Steiner Studios.[7]

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the Old United States Naval Hospital as a New York City Landmark on October 14, 1965.8 The structure resides within the Brooklyn Navy Yard Historic District which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 22, 2014.9

1964: Closure of Brooklyn Navy Yard by federal government and fear of demolition.10

1965: Brooklyn Naval Hospital designated by New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.11

2014: Brooklyn Navy Yard Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places.12

In 1964, the Brooklyn Navy Yard was closed by the federal government and there was a fear that the buildings located on the site, including the “Old United States Naval Hospital,” would be razed.13 This, paired with the public consensus that the hospital building was considered a notable public building supported its early calendaring by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.14 On October 14, 1965 the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing on the designation of the hospital.15 Four witnesses spoke in favor of the designation including the Deputy Borough President of Brooklyn who had been a staunch supporter of landmarking the site.16 Two letters were sent in opposition – one from a representative of the Department of the Navy and one from the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Properties and Installations – who didn’t believe that the New York City Landmarks Law was applicable to federal property.17 Nevertheless, the City persevered and the site joined the ranks of the first group of buildings landmarked in New York City.18

  • Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation Archives Building 77
  • 141 Flushing Avenue, Suite 801
  • Brooklyn, NY, 11205
  • Email: info@bnydc.org
  • Phone: 718-907-5900
  • Fax: (718) 643-9296
  • https://brooklynnavyyard.org/about/archives/collectionguides

  • National Archives of New York City
  • Record Group 52
  • Records of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery1 Bowling Green,
  • New York, NY 10004
  • Email: newyork.archives@nara.gov
  • Phone: (212) 401-1620
  • https://www.archives.gov/nyc/holdings/rg-050-to-99.html

[1] “Old United States Naval Hospital,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 21 June 2021, http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/OLD-US-NAVAL-HOSP-ORIG.pdf.

[2] “Old United States Naval Hospital,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 21 June 2021, http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/OLD-US-NAVAL-HOSP-ORIG.pdf.

[3] Christopher A. Preble and Celia Clark, “The Brooklyn Navy Yard revived,” in Sustainable Regeneration of Former Military Sites, ed. Samer Bagaeen, Celia Clark (London: Routledge, 2016), 199-216.

[4] “Brooklyn Naval Yard Historic District,” National Park Service, accessed 27 June 2021, https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/14000261.pdf.

[5] “Old United States Naval Hospital,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 27 June 2021, http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/OLD-US-NAVAL-HOSP-ORIG.pdf.

[6] “Naval Hospital in Brooklyn to Pass Tomorrow: Commissioned in 1838, it Served during 4 Wars; to be Receiving Station.” New York Herald Tribune (1926-1962), Jun 29, 1948.

[7] “Brooklyn Navy Yard Historic District,” National Park Service, access 27 June 2021, https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/14000261.htm; and Steve Cuozzo, “The Brooklyn Navy Yard is booming, but still holds rustic charm,” The New York Post, 29 April 2019, https://nypost.com/2019/04/29/the-brooklyn-navy-yard-is-booming-but-still-holds-rustic-charm//

[8] “Old United States Naval Hospital,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 27 June 2021, http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/OLD-US-NAVAL-HOSP-ORIG.pdf.

[9] “Brooklyn Navy Yard Historic District,” National Park Service, access 27 June 2021, https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/14000261.htm.

[10] Andrew Gustafson, email message to the author, 21 July, 2021.

[11] “Old United States Naval Hospital,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 27 June 2021, http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/OLD-US-NAVAL-HOSP-ORIG.pdf.

[12] “Brooklyn Navy Yard Historic District,” National Park Service, access 27 June 2021, https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/14000261.htm.

[13] Charles G. Bennett, “City is Negotiating to Take Over Navy Yard for Industrial Center: Heavy Line shows Navy Yard, which City Wants to Acquire City Negotiating to Take Over Navy Yard for Industrial Center.” New York Times (1923-Current File), 7 July, 1966.

[14] Andrew Gustafson, email message to the author, 21 July, 2021; and Suzanne Spellen, “Building of the Day: Hospital Road,” Brownstoner, 24 July, 2013, https://www.brownstoner.com/architecture/building-of-the-day-hospital-road/.

[15] “Old United States Naval Hospital,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 21 June 2021, http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/OLD-US-NAVAL-HOSP-ORIG.pdf.

[16] “Old United States Naval Hospital,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 21 June 2021, http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/OLD-US-NAVAL-HOSP-ORIG.pdf; and Andrew Gustafson, email message to the author, 21 July, 2021.

[17] “Old United States Naval Hospital,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, accessed 21 June 2021, http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/OLD-US-NAVAL-HOSP-ORIG.pdf.

[18] Farnsworth Fowle, “First Official Landmarks of City Designated: 20 Sites Listed — each to Get Year’s Grace.” New York Times (1923-Current File), Oct 18, 1965.