Brooklyn Borough Hall History and Information

In addition to being home to the Tourism and Visitors Center (and the office of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz!), Borough Hall is an illustrious symbol of Brooklyn's glory as its own city, which it was until 1898 and deserves to be once again!

Opened in 1848 as Brooklyn City Hall, Borough Hall was built of Tuckahoe marble in the Greek Revival architectural style (the architect was Gamaliel King), and its beauty is easy to appreciate, from the massive "pineapple" cupola topped with a golden Lady of Justice to "Brooklyn's front stoop," the marble front steps where you can find free summer concerts, a farmer's market and a variety of cultural activities.

The interior of Borough Hall should be a stop unto itself on any visitor's list. Painstakingly restored in the 1980s, the building's majestic features include the Rotunda's two sweeping staircases and black-and-white marble-tile floor; the Beaux Arts-style Courtroom's gold-leaf domed ceiling and brass and crystal chandeliers; and the comforting, sophisticated Victorian Study. But don't take our word for how gorgeous Brooklyn's Borough Hall is -- come see for yourself!