New Exhibit Highlights Pivotal Revolutionary War Battle in Brooklyn

The free exhibition explores the Battle of Brooklyn through artifacts, artwork, and historical context.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A new exhibition at the Center for Brooklyn History, titled 'The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered,' explores the pivotal Battle of Brooklyn, also known as the Battle of Long Island, which was fought on August 27, 1776 during the American Revolutionary War. The exhibition brings the battle to life through artifacts, artwork, and historical interpretation, tracing how the conflict unfolded across Brooklyn and highlighting stories of sacrifice, as well as the dramatic overnight evacuation led by George Washington that helped preserve the revolutionary cause.

Why it matters

The Battle of Brooklyn was a turning point in the Revolutionary War and American history, despite being a defeat for the Continental Army. The exhibition aims to update the story and ensure it includes a diverse range of characters, beyond just American and British soldiers.

The details

The exhibition features artifacts from the battle, including uniform buttons and a cannonball, alongside artwork and historical context. It explores how the Continental Army, outmatched by British troops, faced near-certain destruction, but Washington's dramatic overnight evacuation across the East River allowed the army to live to fight another day. The exhibit also highlights the sacrifice of the Maryland soldiers who held off British forces long enough for Washington's troops to escape, as well as the stories of the British prison ships anchored in Wallabout Bay, where more than 11,500 Americans died.

  • The Battle of Brooklyn was fought on August 27, 1776.
  • The exhibition, 'The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered,' will be on display through the end of 2026.

The players

George Washington

The commander of the Continental Army who led the dramatic overnight evacuation across the East River, allowing the army to live to fight another day.

Dominique Jean-Louis

The chief historian at the Center for Brooklyn History, which is hosting the exhibition.

Center for Brooklyn History

The institution hosting the 'The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered' exhibition, which is part of the Brooklyn Public Library.

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What they’re saying

“The Battle of Brooklyn, even though it's a defeat, is a turning point in the Revolutionary War. It's a turning point in American history.”

— Dominique Jean-Louis, Chief Historian, Center for Brooklyn History (ny1.com)

“It's always described as a miraculous fog. A dense fog drifted down the East River and provided cover for Washington and his remaining soldiers to float back across the East River to Manhattan. Not a single man was lost during that procedure overnight. Every rowboat and every sloop in the city was used to transport them, and the Continental Army lived to fight another day because it very much could have been all over here in Brooklyn.”

— Dominique Jean-Louis, Chief Historian, Center for Brooklyn History (ny1.com)

What’s next

The free exhibition, 'The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered,' will be on display at the Center for Brooklyn History through the end of 2026.

The takeaway

The Battle of Brooklyn was a pivotal moment in the American Revolutionary War, despite being a defeat for the Continental Army. This new exhibition aims to explore the battle's significance and legacy, highlighting the diverse stories and perspectives that shaped this important chapter in American history.