Gowanus canal brooklyn little known facts architectural digest. Please view the links under article milestones below to see why the nomination failed. Gowanus canal maps from 1639 to 2004 by hall of the. Out on the banks of the gowanus canal, some of the last vestiges of brooklyns historic industrial waterfront are clinging to life. Recently, residential developers have been hindered by the industrial zoning and the problems of the sewage overflow through the canal water, but there have been rumors of rezoning by the new york city department of city planning. Jan 6, 2017 the journey of our neighboring waterway from creek to canal. Brooklyns gowanus canal, of course americas most polluted. Jan 16, 2017 gowanus feel free to breathe the air or paddle a canoe on the polluted gowanus canal, but dont go swimming in it and dont eat fish caught there if youre a child or woman under 50, state. The surprising history of the gowanus canal and its role in the building of brooklyn for more than 150 years, brooklyns gowanus canal has been called a cesspool, an industrial dumping ground, and a blemish on the face of the populous boroughas well as one of the most important waterways in the history of new york harbor. Discover the secret history of brooklyns gowanus canal. Oct, 2017 the gowanus canal from the roof of a new waterfront highrise.
This week, examining a new book about the gowanus canal. As gowanus canal curves, the streets fill in the space. Gas and chemical plants were some of the established industries that covered the edges of the. The gowanus receives many millions of gallons of combined sewage ef uent every year. When folks think of places to visit in brooklyn, this industrial neighborhood along the banks of the gowanus canal might not be. Jul 10, 2009 once known as the gashouse district, the area around the gowanus canal is the only underdeveloped section of brownstone brooklyn, for good reason. Proteus gowanus the dutch east india companys joan vinkeboons manatus map is one of the first illustrations of the gowanus canal.
Gowanus feel free to breathe the air or paddle a canoe on the polluted gowanus canal, but dont go swimming in it and dont eat fish caught there if youre a. It was prepared by dan wiley and rosten woo, with help f. These creeks were dammed to build tidal mills, and then dredged and channelized into a one of the busiest waterways in america, bringing goods into the growing city. Its a decayed 19thcentury symbol of industrial progress now facing a 21stcentury version of urban progress. The gowanus canal is a wellknown superfund site bordering a population of over 100,000. The most evocative of them is the carroll street bridge, the oldest retractile bridge in the states, constructed in 1889. The surprising history of the gowanus canal and its role in the building of. How contaminated land on the gowanus became a luxury. The environmental protection agency epa s remedial investigation ri identified waste from tanneries, factories, and chemical plants that freely flowed into the canal.
Oct 15, 2015 the fascinating, murky history of brooklyns gowanus canal. Brooklyns curious canal kindle edition by alexiou, joseph. These marshes and meadows teemed with fish and other wildlife and early settlers named it gowanes creek after chief gowanes, leader of the local tribe of native american canarsees, the algonquinspeaking delaware native american who lived and farmed on the rich shorelines. As far back as the 1880s the gowanus canal had become the cloaca of brooklyn, filled with industrial waste, garbage and sewer outflow. Like miska draskoczys recently published photographs of. An interview with joseph alexiou, author of gowanus history book. Gowanus, brooklyns former industrial hub, is cleaning up its. Gowanus canal brooklyn little known facts architectural. Unknown to most of the world is the location of a whole foods on the gowanus canal superfund site.
A historical timeline of the gowanus canal, 1636 to 2009. Yet its true origins, manmade character, and importance to the city have been largely forgotten. The gowanus neighborhood was once a system of tidal creeks winding through a salt marsh and fed by freshwater streams. Its surrounding industries were, in part, responsible for the current status of the canal.
Brooklyns curious canal author interview brownstoner. As the site of the revolutionary battle of brooklyn, the locus of vital 19th century industry and water commerce, and inspiration and setting for presentday artists, writers and small businesses, this polluted. See more ideas about history, journey and brooklyn image. The gowanus is also pivotala to the history of brooklyn and all of new a york city. It continues to be used for occasional movement of goods and. Gowanus canal brooklyn 2020 all you need to know before. Once a vital cargo transportation hub, the canal has seen decreasing use since the mid20th century, parallel with the decline of domestic waterborne shipping. Find great things to do in this neighborhood including restaurants, bars and new developments. Brooklyns curious canal by joseph alexiou goodreads.
Gowanus, brooklyns former industrial hub, is cleaning up its act. Mapping the pungent history of brooklyns curious canal wnyc. Gowanus canal is a former featured article candidate. Gowanus, brooklyn is known for nightlife and the gowanus canal. Gowanus doesnt provide traditional tourbook sights, but crossing to and fro on the bridges that span the murky waters reveals the districts industrial past. The gowanus waters book follows a 2014 exhibition of the pictures at lilac gallery.
Activities are conducted on the canal and shoreline, with occasional voyages to neighboring waterfront communities of red hook, sunset park and brooklyn heights. Under the gowanus canal, flushing out the stench the new. The gowanus neighborhood planning study is a comprehensive, collaborative effort with the community, government agencies, and various stakeholders to promote a thriving and inclusive neighborhood that balances a mix of goals and priorities, including affordable housing, economic development, resiliency and sustainability, and infrastructure improvements. This innovative plan proposes strategies to divert stormwater runoff for use in the public park along the canal, reducing the input of stormwater into the sewer system. Hes a veritable gowanus canal enthusiast and hell show you the places you overlook, the hidden history of the area and the industrial landmarks. The development includes 86 affordable units and luxury. For more than 150 years, brooklyns gowanus canal has been called a cesspool, an industrial dumping ground, and a blemish on the face of the populous boroughas well as one of the most important waterways in the history of new york harbor. Dozens of old warehouses, factories and stables still line the. Oct 27, 2019 across the street is the head of the gowanus canal and the main building of the douglass street pumping station. The psychedelic pollution floating in the gowanus canal. The dominant industries along the gowanus canal, and the main cause of its contamination, were 19thcentury coalbased industries. The gowanus canal from the roof of a new waterfront highrise. Who would think this after all the natural food whole foods claims to have.
Mar 14, 2015 gowanus, brooklyns former industrial hub, is cleaning up its act. A historical timeline of the gowanus canal, 1636 to 2009 by. Decades of industrial use along the canal contributed to the gowanus canal s environmental impacts. The fascinating, murky history of brooklyns gowanus canal. A brief history of the gowanus canal new york magazine nymag. For more information, please visit the epas gowanus superfund site. As the site of the revolutionary battle of brooklyn, the locus of vital 19th century industry and water commerce, and inspiration and setting for presentday. The hall of the gowanus, a minimuseum and gallery of art, artifacts, maps, documents and books, was created to acknowledge our postindustrial neighbor and namesake, the gowanus canal. Gowanus, brooklyns former industrial hub, is cleaning up. The gowanus canal was most heavily used between 1900 and 1930. The gowanus canal originally known as the gowanus creek is a 1. Industrial development spurred residential housing surrounding the canal basin for canal workers.
Gowanus by joseph alexiou overdrive rakuten overdrive. Gowanus canal noaas damage assessment remediation and. Gowanus the surprising history of the gowanus canal and its role in the building of brooklyn for more than 150 years, brooklyns gowanus canal has been called a cesspool, an industrial dumping ground, and a blemish on the face of the populous boroughas well as one of the most important waterways in the history of new york harbor. The gowanus canal was once a major transportation route used for mobilizing goods throughout the city. The surprising history of the gowanus canal and its role in the building of brooklyn. That history is the subject of a new book, gowanus. The gowanus neighborhood was originally a tidal inlet of small creeks in the original saltwater marshland of south brooklyn. Once known as the gashouse district, the area around the gowanus canal is the only underdeveloped section of brownstone brooklyn, for good reason. The park is designed as a working landscape that improves the health of the canal over time. Decades of industrial use along the canal contributed to the gowanus canals environmental impacts. Engineers reached a partial solution by 1911, when.
Gowanus, brooklyn historic districts councils six to. Gowanuswith its legacy native american name begins the meandering history of this iconic poster child of the industrial age. May 24, 2011 a historical timeline of the gowanus canal, 1636 to 2009 this is a timeline of major historical events of the gowanus canal in brooklyn, ny. Who would have thought that a history book about an industrial area would. In his newly released book, author joseph alexiou explores the colorful and polluted history of brooklyns gowanus canal. Across the street is the head of the gowanus canal and the main building of the douglass street pumping station. Decades of industrial and municipal use contributed to the contamination of the gowanus canal. Who would have thought that a history book about an industrial area would make for. Gowanus sits at the intersection of contamination, a realestate boom, and looming climate change.
A brief history of the gowanus canal new york magazine. May 31, 2018 out on the banks of the gowanus canal, some of the last vestiges of brooklyns historic industrial waterfront are clinging to life. It is located at the edge of the gowanus canal, a similarly evolving postindustrial waterfront area with a thriving artistic community and a history dating to the revolutionary war and before. Explore this interactive map of the gowanus canals slightly. Apr 14, 2016 the gowanus canal is an incubator for the evolution of such bioremediating functions, attesting to its industrial past and its capacity for selfrenewal, they stated.
A block north, 4th street goes a block further, to the end of bond. Originally it was fed by the marshland and freshwater springs in brooklyn and drained into the atlantic ocean in upper new york bay. The gowanus canal is an incubator for the evolution of such bioremediating functions, attesting to its industrial past and its capacity for selfrenewal, they stated. As industry and traffic increased, so did pollution. A key feature of the epas superfund process is the enforcement first policy, which. The surprising history of the gowanus canal and its role in the building of brooklyn for more than 150 years, brooklyns gowanus canal has been called a cesspool, an industrial dumping ground, and a blemish on the face of the populous borough. For older candidates, please check the archive gowanus canal has been listed as one of the geography and places good articles under the good article criteria. The gowanus canal, located in brooklyn, ny is one of the most heavily contaminated water bodies in the nation.
Elimination of the canal contamination and an attempt to bring forward an aesthetically pleasing water body with local fauna and flora has long been coveted by the public. Gowanus, brooklyn guide to the best of the neighborhood. History in 1636, gowanus bay was the site of the first settlement by dutch farmers in what is now brooklyn. For more than 150 years, brooklyns gowanus canal has been called a cesspoo. History the gowanus canal was built in the mid1800s and for many years served as as a major industrial transportation route. Since 1999 the dredgers have empowered people to care for the gowanus canal through advocacy, conservation, and education. Gowanus canal sponge park masterplan architect magazine. Scientists have found pcbs, coal tar, mercury, lead, and even gonorrhea. A flush tunnel was incorporated into the canal in 1911 in efforts to mitigate the heavy pollution caused by industry. Like proteus, the greek sea god who could change form, proteus gowanus is an everchanging organism. It is worth a look at from multiple locations so that you know what youre tax dollars are being spent. How contaminated land on the gowanus became a luxury housing. The gowanus canal conjures up many aspects of new york city, from a celebrated revolutionary war history to a less glorious industrial past that renders itself visible in the superfund site the.