Brooklyn Through Time
This interactive map layers 360+ years of history, from the Castello Plan of 1660—the oldest known map of New Amsterdam—to modern Brooklyn. Watch as rural villages transform into dense urban neighborhoods.
Use the buttons above the map to switch between historic eras. Click markers to learn about specific neighborhoods, historic sites, and how the landscape evolved from Dutch farmland to America's most populous borough.
Historic Map Layers
Castello Plan (1660)
The oldest known map of Manhattan showing New Amsterdam with fortifications, windmills, and the original Dutch settlement. Brooklyn appears as "Breuckelen" village.
Colton's NYC (1855)
Pre-Civil War map showing Brooklyn as an independent city before the 1898 consolidation. Shows early street grid development and waterfront expansion.
Beers Atlas (1879)
Detailed property atlas of Brooklyn showing individual buildings, parks, and the Brooklyn Bridge under construction. Peak Victorian-era urbanization.
Modern OpenStreetMap
Contemporary street network with subway lines, neighborhoods, and parks. Compare with historic maps to see urban transformation.
Brooklyn History Highlights
Dutch Settlement
Dutch West India Company establishes the village of Breuckelen. The name derives from the town of Breukelen in Utrecht, Netherlands.
Battle of Brooklyn
Largest battle of the Revolutionary War fought in Brooklyn. Washington's army escapes across the East River in the famous midnight retreat.
City of Brooklyn Incorporated
Brooklyn becomes the third-largest city in America, separate from New York. Rapid industrial growth along the waterfront.
Brooklyn Bridge Opens
Engineering marvel connects Brooklyn to Manhattan. At the time, the longest suspension bridge in the world. Changed Brooklyn forever.
Consolidation
Brooklyn joins Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island to form Greater New York City. Brooklyn residents initially opposed the merger.
Subway Expansion
IRT and BMT subway lines extend into Brooklyn. Neighborhoods like Ditmas Park, built along new transit corridors, boom with Victorian homes.
Technical Details
- Map Library: Leaflet.js - open-source interactive mapping
- Data Source: OpenStreetMap via Overpass API
- Tiles: OpenStreetMap standard tile layer
- Coordinates: Ditmas Park center: 40.6375°N, 73.9611°W
Why 2D?
While 3D visualizations look impressive, 2D maps are often more practical for urban planning analysis. They're:
- Accessible: Work on all devices without heavy GPU requirements
- Familiar: Everyone knows how to use a 2D map
- Fast: Load instantly and perform smoothly even on older hardware
- Precise: Easier to measure distances and analyze spatial relationships