Sea & Be Scene
One of the earliest areas in Brooklyn to be settled, traces of Red Hook's long history can be seen around every corner: from the days as the nation's busiest port to a hub of industrial activity, today Red Hook also is a haven for eclectic small businesses, historic houses, yummy restaurants and up-and-coming artists.

Waterfront Works
By and large, Red Hook's history is rooted in maritime industry. Red Hook, named for its red clay soil and hook shaped peninsula that curves into the East River, grew into a commercial powerhouse in the mid-1850's when it became one of the busiest ports in the country. For over 140 years industrious workers repaired large shipping vessels at Red Hook's Todd Shipyards and thousands upon thousands of longshoremen lived and worked in the neighborhood.

Like many New York neighborhoods, Red Hook is changing, but vestiges of its influential maritime history are still woven into the community's fabric. Walk down Red Hook's main commercial artery, Van Brunt Street, and surrounding areas today, and you'll notice that even the names of modern institutions like the Red Hook Bait & Tackle Bar (320 Van Brunt Street) and Hope and Anchor Diner (347 Van Brunt Street) give a nod to Red Hook's waterfront influences. The nearby Waterfront Museum and Bargeport (299 Conover Street at Pier 44) offers maritime education through its museum and cultural center, while the new arrival of the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, home to the Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth 2, Crown Princess, and the Star Princess, shows that times may be a changing, but Red Hook's bond with the sea remains, albeit with a more modern twist.

Artistic Reinvention
Red Hook's vestiges of maritime splendor provide inspiration for a growing creative, artistic and small business community in Red Hook today. Industrial warehouses, some built around the time of the Civil War, have been converted to house small manufacturing, office and artisan businesses. Visitors are welcome at the Beard Street Warehouse (499 Van Brunt), which now houses over 40 businesses, including a glass-blowing studio and gallery, the Brooklyn Waterfront Artist's Coalition (Red Hook's premier art venue), and the set and costume designers for the famed Blue Man Group.

Fans crowd into The Hook (18 Commerce Street) to hear up-and-coming bands, while others check out contemporary drawings and work on paper at Kentler International Drawing Space (353 Van Brunt Street).

Getting Here:
Subway F or the G train to Smith-9th Streets, transfer to the B77 bus to Van Brunt Street.
A, C, or F train to Jay St-Borough Hall and catch B61 bus to Red Hook or
M, N, R, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 trains to Borough Hall, walk to Atlantic Avenue and transfer to the B61 bus.
Other New York Water Taxis stop at the Beard Street Pier at Van Brunt Street (Visit www.nywatertaxi.com for more information.)
Parking Ample street parking along and adjacent to Van Brunt Street