Victorian Architecture Tour in Brooklyn

As you arrive in Brooklyn, New York, you’ll get acquainted with your guide and the neighborhood. Stroll down Ditmas Avenue and take in the stately Victorian architecture that you’ll be studying and discovering over the next week. 

Today, you’ll dive right in to viewing the turrets, gables and asymmetrical architecture of Ditmas Park’s Victorian architecture. The area is part of a group of neighborhoods known as Victorian Flatbush. Deemed a National Historic District, Ditmas Park is one of the largest areas of Victorian homes in the country. There are more than 170 buildings built around 1902 – 1914. Other architectural styles to look out for include Colonial Revival, Queen Anne and Craftsman. 

Today, you’ll explore the Brooklyn Bridge and its Victorian-inspired Gothic architecture. Designed by John Augustus Roebling, the iconic cable/suspension bridge crosses the East River and connects Brooklyn to Manhattan. It’s a National Historic Landmark and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. 

Today, you’ll be exploring nearby Fiske Terrace and Midwood Park. This Historic District features an array of Victorian and Craftsman architecture along its tree-lined streets.

Start the day with a visit to the beautiful Beaux-Arts Brooklyn Museum. It’s one of the oldest art museums in the United States, and was founded in 1895. You’ll see that it has an extensive collection of American, European and African art, sculpture and photographs. Afterward, you’ll also have time to explore the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which is located nearby.

With roots dating back to 1875, the Neo-Georgian Flatbush-Tompkins Congregational Church is a New York City landmark. You’ll learn about its roles and influences in the Brooklyn community throughout the 19th century. 

This evening, you’ll visit the historic King’s Theatre, which first opened in 1929. Formerly known as Loew’s Kings Theatre, it’s a movie and live performance venue featuring the ornate and gilded decor popular in early 20th-century movie houses. 

On your last morning in Brooklyn, spend some time re-exploring the streets of Ditmas Park. Do some shopping along Flatbush Avenue, or enjoy a cup of coffee while re-examining all that you’ve seen and experienced throughout the week.