Information
Landmark: Grand Army PlazaCity: Brooklyn
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, USA New York, North America
Overview
Grand Army Plaza sits at Prospect Park’s northern entrance, a sweeping landmark that’s both historic and unmistakably Brooklyn.It works as both the park’s main entrance and a busy traffic circle, much like Manhattan’s Columbus Circle where cars stream past in every direction.Grand Army Plaza sits in Brooklyn’s Park Slope, where Flatbush Avenue, Eastern Parkway, Prospect Park West, Union Street, and Vanderbilt Avenue all meet.It’s a busy roundabout, ringed with pedestrian islands, monuments, and patches of neatly trimmed grass.In the 1860s, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux-best known for designing Prospect Park and Central Park-envisioned a grand entrance to Prospect Park, a ceremonial plaza meant to honor Brooklyn while it was still its own city.Built in phases through the late 19th century, the space gained its most striking feature in 1892: the towering Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch, its bronze figures catching the afternoon sun.Here’s one standout feature.The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch stands at the heart of the plaza, its stone towering in memory of Union troops who fought in the Civil War, a vision brought to life by designer John H. Duncan, who also designed Grant’s Tomb, topped the arch with a dramatic bronze quadriga-a chariot pulled by four horses-added in 1898, and filled it with reliefs and allegorical figures that embody war, peace, and military valor.Bailey Fountain sits at the heart of the traffic circle, just before the arch, its stone figures drawn from classical mythology.Completed in 1932, it was named for Frank Bailey, the philanthropist who made it possible.John F. stood at the corner, the smell of fresh coffee drifting past him.Behind the fountain, a bronze bust of JFK stands in the plaza, placed there in 1965 as a tribute to the late president.Statues and monuments include figures of Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, their bronze coats catching the afternoon light.Grant, along with fellow Civil War figure Henry W., stood in the thick of the smoke and shouting.The Maxwell Memorial stands alongside several bronze reliefs, their surfaces catching the afternoon light.In the heart of Grand Army Plaza, trees, shrubs, flower beds, and benches create a welcoming green space, though the constant whirl of traffic means you’ll need a crosswalk to reach some areas.Serving as the grand entrance to Prospect Park-Brooklyn’s largest and most historic-it connects the Brooklyn Museum, the Botanic Garden, and the Public Library, all just a short walk away.This symbolic hub hosts rallies, public gatherings, farmers’ markets, and art installations.Nearby, the 2 and 3 trains stop at Grand Army Plaza station, while the B and Q pull into 7th Avenue; several MTA buses pass through as well.Heavy vehicle flow makes it vital yet tricky for walkers and cyclists.Every Saturday, year-round, the GrowNYC Greenmarket fills the plaza with fresh produce, crusty loaves, meats, fish, dairy, flowers, and more-one of the busiest in the city.The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch has seen multiple restorations, most recently to its bronze sculptures and masonry, and ongoing Vision Zero projects aim to improve safety and access.Frequently mentioned in books, music, and film, its sweeping neoclassical design and monumental scale make it one of Brooklyn’s most photographed landmarks.
