Things to Do
The Sunset Park waterfront will be one of the premier destinations during Open House New York Weekend, October 17–19. We have put together a guide of the different places you can explore throughout the neighborhood, highlighting the Brooklyn Army Terminal and MADE Bush Terminal. You can visit studios, galleries, and workshops, and as always, we at Turnstile Tours will be offering guided tours throughout the weekend. All sites are open access—meaning no tickets or reservations are required—unless otherwise noted.
Click “More Info” below each tile to find out more.
Brooklyn Army Terminal Guided Tours
Take a 45-minute guided tour of the stunning atrium and learn about the site’s history and reinvention with Turnstile Tours.
BAT • Sat & Sun, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm • More info
MADE Bush Terminal Guided Tours
Take a 45-minute guided tour of the newly renovated MADE Bush Terminal campus to learn about the history of the site and how it is attracting Makers, Artisans, Designers, and Entrepreneurs (MADE).
MADE • Sat & Sun, 11am, 1pm, 3pm • More info
Getting to the Neighborhood
BAT and MADE are located in Sunset Park and easily accessible by subway and ferry. There will also be transportation service between BAT, MADE, and Industry City.
BioBAT Art Space
Explore this art gallery that works at the intersection of art and science.
BAT • Sat 12pm–5pm (main gallery), Sat & Sun (Building A exhibit) • More info
MakerSpace NYC
Visit this non-profit fabrication facility for artists, designers, craftspeople, makers, and manufacturers.
BAT • Sat & Sun, 12pm–4pm • More info
ChaShaMa Open Studios
Step inside the studios of more than 100 artists with ChaShama, which has been transforming space for artmaking, exhibition, and education since 1995.
BAT • Sun 11am–5pm • More info
FABSCRAP
Visit the warehouse where millions of pounds of textiles are collected, sorted, recycled, and reused.
BAT • Sat 12pm–4pm • More info
Brooklyn Army Terminal History Exhibit
Learn all about BAT in this exhibit of historical and contemporary photos spanning the length of Building A.
BAT • Sat & Sun 12pm–5pm • More info
South Brooklyn Ferry Audio Guide
As you ride the ferry from Wall Street to Sunset Park, listen to our audio guide on Bloomberg Connects.
BAT Clay Studio
Visit this communal ceramics studio where members will be demonstrating their skills and showing off their work.
BAT • Sat & Sun 12pm–5pm • More info
Circular Design for Climate Mobilization (CDCMo) Exhibit
This interactive exhibit spotlights waste as a resource and fosters regenerative, community-driven solutions.
MADE • Sat 10am–6pm & Sun 11am–3pm • More info
Sunset Park Open Studios
Explore artist studios and galleries all around Sunset Park, including ArtBuilt and MakerSpace in the Brooklyn Army Terminal and artists in the MADE Admin Building.
BAT & MADE • Sat & Sun 1pm–5pm • More info
Brooklyn Army Terminal FAQs
Get answers to your burning questions about BAT’s history, architecture, and industry.
BAT • More info
OHNY Neighborhood Spotlight: Sunset Park
Explore other participating OHNY Weekend sites nearby and other places to explore in Sunset Park.
Brooklyn Army Terminal Guided Tours
Saturday & Sunday, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm • Building B North Lobby • OHNY Listing • BAT Website
Turnstile Tours is offering 45-minute guided tours that start in the north lobby of Building B and explore the building’s atrium, ending at the south end. These tours will provide an overview of the Terminal’s history, starting with its construction and use as a military supply depot in World War I, World War II, and the Cold War, and its reinvention as a city-owned industrial park since the 1980s. Tours are open access, so no reservations are required, and there are no capacity limits for the tour.
If you want a more extensive tour of the Brooklyn Army Terminal, you can join a 2-hour version of the tour that explores all the buildings, offered most Saturdays at 11am. Tickets & Info
MADE Bush Terminal Guided Tours
Saturday & Sunday, 11am, 1pm, 3pm • 13 42nd St • OHNY Listing • MADE Website
Turnstile Tours is offering 45-minute guided tours that start in the plaza between 41st St and 42nd St, just outside the main entrance to MADE Building A. These tours will explore the history of the Bush Terminal, the world’s first intermodal shipping port and a massive economic engine for Brooklyn for much of the 20th century. Today, the area of Bush Terminal south of 41st St is owned by the City and operated by the New York City Economic Development Corporation. This tour will explore the recently-renovated Building A and discuss the vision for the MADE (Makers, Artisans, Designers, Entrepreneurs) to provide flexible, affordable space for industry. Tours are open access, so no reservations are required, and there are no capacity limits for the tour.
Getting to the Neighborhood
BROOKLYN ARMY TERMINAL
The Brooklyn Army Terminal is located at 140 58th St, Brooklyn, NY 11220, near the junction of 1st Ave and 58th St. Below are directions and information about transportation options. OHNY Weekend activities are taking place in Building A (the building closer to the water), Building B (which is closer to 2nd Ave), and the Annex (at the corner of 58th St and 1st Ave).
- SUBWAY: The nearest station is 59 St (N,R), located about a 10-minute walk from BAT. This is a wheelchair-accessible station. Please note that these trains run on a more limited schedule on weekends, so allow for additional travel time. After exiting the station, walk in the direction of traffic along 59th St for two blocks until you reach 2nd Ave, then take a right onto 2nd Ave. After one block, turn left onto 58th St and continue walking straight until you reach the junction of 1st Avenue.
- FERRY: NYC Ferry serves the Brooklyn Army Terminal on the Rockaway and South Brooklyn routes. All ferries and landings are wheelchair accessible. Visit ferry.nyc for schedules and info, and download the NYC Ferry app. Signage and OHNY volunteers will help direct you up the hill to the entrances of Buildings A and B.
- BUS: The B11 stops directly in front of the Brooklyn Army Terminal on 58th St and 1st Ave. All NYC MTA buses are wheelchair accessible, and all accept OMNY with a contactless bank card or smartphone.
- BICYCLE: Bicycle parking is available at the Brooklyn Army Terminal near the entrances to Building A and Building B. The area is served by Citi Bike, with stations on 1st Ave, 2nd Ave, and Pier 4.
- DRIVING & PARKING: There is parking available on Pier 4 at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, though space may be limited. Follow signs at the corner of 58th St and 1st Ave.
MADE BUSH TERMINAL
MADE Bush Terminal is located at 13 42nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232, with entrances at 41st St and 43rd St along 3rd Ave. Below are directions and information about transportation options. OHNY Weekend activities are taking place in Building A (located between 41st St and 42nd St) and the Admin Building (located at the foot of 43rd St).
- SUBWAY: The nearest station is 36 St (D,N,R), located about a 10-minute walk from MADE. This station is not wheelchair accessible station.
- FERRY: NYC Ferry serves the Brooklyn Army Terminal on the Rockaway and South Brooklyn routes. All ferries and landings are wheelchair accessible. Visit ferry.nyc for schedules and info, and download the NYC Ferry app. Signage and OHNY volunteers will help direct you up the hill to the entrances of Buildings A and B.
- BUS: MADE is accessible via the B35, B70, and B37 buses. All NYC MTA buses are wheelchair accessible, and all accept OMNY with a contactless bank card or smartphone.
- BICYCLE: Bicycle parking is available at MADE Bush Terminal near the entrance to Bush Terminal Piers Park at the foot of 43rd St. The area is served by Citi Bike, with a stations on 42nd St and 1st Ave.
- DRIVING & PARKING: There is limited street parking the area.
Getting Around the Neighborhood
SHUTTLE SERVICE
There will be a shuttle running between BAT, MADE, Industry City, and the subway. The service will run approximately every 30 minutes. The stops are:
- Industry City food court (36th St between 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave)
- MADE entrance (41st St & 1st Ave)
- BAT (58th St & 1st Ave)
- 58th St & 4th Ave (1 block from 59 St subway)
- 36 St Subay (36th St & 4th Ave)
BROOKLYN ARMY TERMINAL
The Brooklyn Army Terminal has three main buildings, Building A is closer to the water, Building B is closer to Second Ave, and the Annex is located at the corner of 58th St and 1st Ave. The main hubs of activity will be in the north lobbies of A and B, where OHNY volunteers and partner representatives will be positioned to provide information and wayfinding help.
Restrooms are located in the north lobbies of Building A and Building B.
In Building A, enter the north lobby to visit ChaShaMa via the first elevator bank, or walk down the main hallway to view exhibits and access BioBAT Art Space.
In Building B, hourly guided tours of the atrium will begin in the north lobby, and you can visit MakerSpace NYC on the right side of the lobby. Explore the atrium and walk to the south elevators to access ArtBuilt Brooklyn, FABSCRAP, and ChaShaMa.
In the Annex, BAT Clay Studio is open on the 4th floor.
MADE Bush Terminal
OHNY activities will be taking place in Building A (located between 41st and 42nd St) and in the Admin Building (at the foot of 43rd St).
Guided tours will meet in the plaza outside the main entrance to Building A. Step inside the Building A to visit the Circular Design for Climate Mobilization (CDCMo) exhibit. There will be several artists with open studios in the Admin Building.
Where to Eat
There will be food trucks parked at BAT and MADE serving amazing food throughout the weekend, including:
There are also lots of great places to eat and drink nearby. Here are a few that we recommend:
- Five Boroughs Brewing • 215 47th St (between 2nd & 3rd Ave)
- Las Rosas Bakery • 5824 4th Ave (at 59th St)
- Industry City Food Hall • 268 36th St (between 2nd & 3rd Ave)
- Tacos El Bronco • 4324 4th Ave (at 44th St)
- Yaffa Cafe • 4415 4th Ave (at 45th St)
MakerSpace NYC
Saturday & Sunday, 12pm–4pm • BAT Building B, Unit 1C (in the north lobby) • OHNY Listing • Website
Makerspace NYC is a 40,000 sq ft fabrication facility for artists, designers, craftspeople, makers, and manufacturers at the Brooklyn Army Terminal. Visit the Makerspace facilities in Buildings B and A for tours and industrial machine demonstrations (all activities will begin in Building B). Meet a variety of makers and see machines such the computer numerical control (CNC) machines in action. Arrive and tour anytime during the open hours. Machine demonstrations will happen at intervals throughout the weekend.
Getting to MakerSpace NYC: Access MakerSpace through the Building B north lobby. The entrance is located just past Pete’s Brooklyn Eats on the right side.
BioBAT Art Space
Saturday , 12pm–5pm • BAT Building A, south end & Building A North Lobby • OHNY Listing • Website
BioBAT Art Space is a non-profit gallery dedicated to the intersection of art and science. The gallery features cutting-edge bio-art, where artists and scientists create works that push the boundaries of both fields. The current exhibitions are ADAPTIVE HUES, located in their main gallery on the south end of Building A, and LIVING MATTER, SHAPING FUTURES, inside the Building A North Lobby.
Getting to BioBAT Art Space: The gallery galley can be accessed directly from the West Parking Lot. It is located on the south side of Building A.
ChaShaMa Open Studios
Sunday, 11am–5pm • Building A, Unit 3-J & Building B, Unit 4-I • OHNY Listing • Website
Since 1995, ChaShaMa has transformed unused space into hubs of creativity for artists, community-centric art classes, and small businesses. ChaShaMa invites you to explore over 100 visual arts studios at the iconic Brooklyn Army Terminal, where you can meet the artists, purchase original pieces, and get inspired. Be sure to visit both studio spaces, located in Buildings A and B.
Getting to ChaShaMa: You can access ChaShaMa’s Building A space (3–J) through the building’s north lobby. Walk through the lobby and take the first bank of elevators on your left to the 3rd floor. In Building B (4-I), walk through the north lobby and through the atrium to the south end of the building. At the south end of the atrium, take the last bank of elevators on your right to the 4th floor.
FABSCRAP
Friday, 10am–2pm, Saturday, 12pm–4pm • BAT Building B, Unit 5-H4 • OHNY Listing • Website
FABSCRAP is a nonprofit organization that has pioneered a system to recycle and reuse fabric waste, creating an accessible materials resource for creative communities while reducing the fashion industry’s impact on the planet. Visit FABSCRAP’s warehouse in Brooklyn Army Terminal where millions of pounds of textiles are collected, sorted, recycled, and reused. You’ll have the rare opportunity to follow the path of a roll of fabric, trim, samples, and/or headers once FABSCRAP intercepts them from landfills. Then, you’ll get a hands-on lesson in textiles sorting. Finally, you’ll be challenged to tap into your own creativity in our reuse room.
Getting to FABSCRAP: Located on the south end of Building B, you can access FABSCRAP via the building’s north lobby and walking the length of the atrium. At the south end of the atrium, take the elevator bank on the right hand side to the 5th floor.
Brooklyn Army Terminal History Exhibit
Open all hours • BAT Building A, central hallway
Created with support from Turnstile Tours in partnership with NYCEDC, this exhibit explores how the Brooklyn Army Terminal has been a cornerstone of the South Brooklyn waterfront for more than a century. Covering more the 30 wall panels, the exhibit runs along the entire central hallway of Building A, from the north lobby to the south entrance. View rarely seen historical photos from BAT’s construction and World War II, and learn about current projects, such as the Pilots at BAT program and the BATWorks climate innovation center.
South Brooklyn Ferry Audio Guide
Listen online or on Bloomberg Connects
We created a special free audio tour for Open House New York on Bloomberg Connects highlighting waterfront spots along the South Brooklyn route on NYC Ferry. This audio guide examines the past and present of the working waterfront of South Brooklyn, featuring sites including the Brooklyn Army Terminal, MADE Bush Terminal, Governors Island, and Brooklyn Bridge Park. You can also listen to our audio guide along the Astoria Route.
BAT Clay Studio
Saturday & Sunday, 12pm–5pm • BAT Annex, Suite 403 • OHNY Listing • Website
Come visit Southern Brooklyn’s first communal ceramics studio, which provides space to established ceramic makers and offering first-rate ceramics equipment, custom, hand-built workspaces and a supportive artistic community. BAT Clay features an on-site showroom with work made by our members for sale to the public. Members of the studio will be on-site to provide wheel demonstrations of ceramic wheel throwing.
Circular Design for Climate Mobilization (CDCMo) Exhibit
Saturday 10am–6pm & Sunday 11am–3pm • MADE Building A • OHNY Listing • Website
As a social venture accelerating sustainable innovation through design, Circular Design for Climate Mobilization (CDCMo) at MADE will engage manufacturers, designers, and entrepreneurs through an interactive exhibit spotlighting waste as a resource and fostering regenerative, community-driven solutions. Liana Scobie, the exhibition’s curator, will be onsite to answer questions about CDCMo principles and the exhibits.
Sunset Park Open Studios
Saturday & Sunday, 1pm–5pm • ArtBuilt: BAT Building B, Unit 7-G • MADE Admin Building • OHNY Listing • Website
Sunset Park Open Studios is an annual, multi-day arts celebration of exhibitions, events and open studios throughout Sunset Park, Brooklyn, featuring hundreds of participating artists and art spaces from across the neighborhood. Inside the Brooklyn Army Terminal, MakerSpace will be a hub with information available about the festival, and ArtBuilt Brooklyn will also be participating, with open access to Nino Tsiklauri, Oscar Lopez, Matt Rubendall, Purgatory Pie Press, Cesar Valdés, Ella Wearing, JB Morton, Vandana Jain, Ianthe Jackson, Mike Estabrook, and Andy Mazzella.
Getting to ArtBuilt: Located on the south end of Building B, you can access ArtBuilt via the building’s north lobby and walking the length of the atrium. At the south end of the atrium, take the elevator bank on the left hand side to the 7th floor.
Getting to the MADE Admin Building: You can enter the MADE campus via any of the entrances along 1st Ave, and the Admin Building is at the foot of 43rd St. There is a large bronze statue in front of Irving T. Bush, and it is near the entrance to Bush Terminal Piers Park.
Brooklyn Army Terminal FAQs
When was the Brooklyn Army Terminal built?
The Brooklyn Army Terminal was constructed from May 1918 to September 1919 to serve as a military supply depot for the US Army in World War I. Originally intended to be completed by the end of 1918, the Armistice, as well as a major strike, slowed construction, so the Army Terminal was not used during World War I.
Who designed and built it?
The building was designed by Cass Gilbert, architect of New York City landmarks the Woolworth Building and Custom House. Construction was done by Turner Construction and overseen by the US Army Quartermaster Corps, and notable figures in architecture, engineering, and logistics contributed to the project, including Gen. George Goethals, Irving T. Bush, and Albert Kahn. At the peak, more than 7,400 people worked on the site. Six workers were killed during construction, and there were 7,396 accidents resulting in injury. When completed, it was the world’s largest concrete building, at four million square feet.
What is the atrium and what are those balconies for?
The atrium was the main cargo handling area. Freight trains could drive directly into the building, and their cargo was unloaded on the central platform. Then two electric gantry cranes, still visible along the ceiling, could position over the cargo and lower cables to lift it up and deposit it into the balconies, where it could then be loaded into the warehouses. The balconies are offset so that the overhead cranes could reach every level of the building.
What happened here during World War II?
More than 25,000 civilian and military personnel worked here during the war, when this was the headquarters of the New York Port of Embarkation, the organization for all the Army transportation in the region. BAT received all sorts of cargo, including small arms, clothing, non-perishable food, field guns, tanks, and airplanes, that was inspected, packaged, sorted, and loaded onto ships. Soldiers also arrived to board ships heading to the European and Pacific theaters. About 20% of all troops deployed out of New York Harbor left from the Brooklyn Army Terminal, or roughly 600,000 troops. Following the war, three-quarters of all the remains of American servicemen killed overseas and repatriated to the US were received at BAT, or more than 140,000 people.
When did Elvis visit?
Elvis Presely was drafted into the Army in December 1957, and his unit, the 3rd Armored Division, was shipped out from the Brooklyn Army Terminal to Bremerhaven, Germany on September 22, 1958. Elvis spent a few hours on Army Terminal Pier 4, which still stands, conducting interviews before boarding the transport USS Gen. George M. Randall.
When did the Brooklyn Army Terminal close?
The federal government closed the Port of Embarkation here in December 1966, and most of its operations were eventually moved to Bayonne, New Jersey. Different federal departments, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Postal Service maintained facilities here until 1975, when the federal government abandoned it. In 1981, it was sold to the City of New York for $8.5 million to become an industrial park, and the first businesses moved into Building B in 1987.
What happens here today?
The Brooklyn Army Terminal is owned by the city and operated by the New York City Economic Development Corporation as an industrial park. The campus has more than 100 tenants that employ almost 4,000 people. Most are industrial businesses, manufacturing food, furniture, clothing, electronics, jewelry, and more, plus there are many tenants working in distribution and logistics, technology, and the arts. BAT has become an important testing site for green building technology through the Pilots at BAT program, and in the future it will house the Climate Innovation Hub. The campus is over 93% occupied.
For a complete list of Brooklyn Army Terminal tenants, visit bat.nyc.
MADE Bush Terminal FAQs
Who is Bush? Why did he build this?
Irving T. Bush (no relation to the US presidents) was the innovator behind Bush Terminal. Known as the “grandfather of intermodal transportation,” Bush’s vision included creating a massive complex of warehouses, factories, piers, and railyards to attract manufacturers to South Brooklyn, with the promise that this integrated production and shipping hub would give them access to the world. Originally from Michigan, Bush’s family moved to New York and his father Rufus made a fortune in the oil business. He bequeathed $2 million ($50 million in today’s money) to Irving and his brother Wendell, which they invested to create Bush Terminal. After Irving’s death in 1948, a statue was commissioned and created by sculptor William Wolcott, and it still stands today in front of the Admin Building at the foot of 43rd Street.
When was Bush Terminal built?
The story of Bush Terminal began in 1890, when Irving T. Bush built his first warehouse on the Sunset Park waterfront, and he laid out his plans for a massive industrial complex that would span from 28th Street to 51st Street between 3rd Avenue and the harbor in Sunset Park. The buildings of the MADE campus were constructed approximately between 1895 and 1902 are are made of brick; the larger concrete buildings of nearby Industry City were built 1906–1911. At its maximum extent, Bush Terminal covered 250 acres and 6 million square feet of buildings.
What happened here during the World Wars?
These buildings were mobilized for both the First and Second World Wars, when many of the buildings were leased to the US Army and used for shipping troops and supplies all across the world. Around this time, Bush Terminal reached its peak employment, with almost 40,000 people working across all the facilities, highlighting its role as a massive economic engine.
When did the Bush Terminal close?
Since it began in the 1890s, at least some portion of the Bush Terminal has always been operational and housed tenant businesses. In the 1970s, portions of Bush Terminal were sold off, including the southern half of the campus, which became property of the City of New York. Today, the city owns the historic Bush Terminal property south of 41st Street along 1st Avenue, and the northern portion is the privately-owned development Industry City. So there have always been people working here at Bush Terminal, and we want to continue that tradition today of providing good-paying jobs along the waterfront.
What does MADE stand for? What happens here today?
MADE stands for Manufacturers, Artisans, Designers, and Entrepreneurs. MADE is owned by the city and operated by the New York City Economic Development Corporation as an industrial park. Tenants today occupy Buildings A, B, and the Admin Building. Tenants include Pelle Designs, an independent design studio that combines the practices of art and engineering to create expressive lighting, furniture, and design objects; ChaShaMa, a nonprofit arts organization that provides affordable studio space to artists; NY Sketches, a team of artists who provide corporate clients’ artistic commissions ranging from paintings, textiles, and live event caricature drawings. We look forward to welcoming in a diverse array of future tenants.
How can I become a tenant here?
MADE features state of the art facilities, modern amenities, and flexible gathering areas with spaces ranging from 1,500 to 35,000 rentable square feet. Tenants enjoy no real estate tax, energy discount programs, relocation employment assistant programs, as well as New York State Empire Zone benefits. Visit their website to fill out an inquiry form and find out more.
OHNY Neighborhood Spotlight: Sunset Park
Check out OHNY’s Sunset Park Neighborhood Spotlight and explore the neighborhood beyond BAT and MADE.
Here are some other locations that are participating in Open House New York Weekend near the Brooklyn Army Terminal.
- Brooklyn Grange Farm Sunset Park • Sunday, 10am–3pm
- Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility • Sunday, 12pm–4pm
- New York Art Residency and Studios • Saturday & Sunday (hours vary)
- Morbid Anatomy • Saturday & Sunday, 12pm–4pm
- Windscape Brooklyn • Saturday, 10am–4pm
- Brooklyn Glass • Sunday, 11am–4pm
- Gowanus Dredgers Canoeing • Sunday, 10am–6pm
