Archtober in Prospect Park: Calvert Vaux at 200 | Saturday, Oct 5, 10:30am

Tour Highlights

2-hour guided walking tour
Learn about the life and career of Calvert Vaux and see surviving examples of his work
Tour offered on Saturday, Oct 5 at 10:30am
Special tour for Archtober
Tour starts at Bartel–Pritchard Square
Tours support Prospect Park Alliance

During Archtober, join Turnstile Tours and the Prospect Park Alliance for a special tour to celebrate Prospect Park co-designer Calvert Vaux’ 200th birthday in 2024.

Though often overlooked due to his association with Frederick Law Olmsted, Calvert Vaux is an important figure in American architecture in his own right. A classically-trained architect, talented artist, and strong advocate for public parks, he had already done major projects before working with Olmsted on Central Park and Prospect Park. To mark Vaux’ 200th birthday year, we will examine his distinctive architectural style on display in Prospect Park, paying special attention to structures such as the Well House, Concert Grove Pavilion, and the park’s many arches. We will also examine Vaux’ legacy of designing buildings and landscapes for the public good, including museums, parks, and housing.

This tour is part of Archtober, a month-long celebration of all things architecture in New York City presented by the Center for Architecture and the American Institute of Architects New York.

Tour Information

Admission

Prospect Park Public Tours

General Admission: $25 per person
Seniors (65+): $22.50
Students and Veterans: $22.50
Children (5-12): $12.50
Children under 5 are welcome to attend free
Prospect Park Alliance Members: 25% off. Please contact the Alliance for your discount code to use when booking.
Advance ticket purchase is required

Private tours are available seven days a week, depending on availability. Pricing for private tours is based on a minimum occupancy of 12 guests, and a gratuity of 8.5% is added to all private tour bookings.

Know Before You Go

Dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.
We will walk approximately 2 miles on this tour.
Tours proceed rain or shine and will not be cancelled or rescheduled due to inclement weather unless such weather constitutes a dangerous situation, in which case Turnstile Tours will contact all tour attendees.
Cancellations: We cannot reschedule or refund tickets that are canceled within 24 hours of the tour start time. If you cancel more than 24 hours before the tour, we can offer you a credit to reschedule for a future tour.

Directions

Prospect Park is a 585-acre park located in the center of Brooklyn. This tour begins at Bartel-Pritchard Square in Windsor Terrace. The tour will begin next to the memorial in the center of the circle.

Click here for Google Maps directions, view our neighborhood map, or view the official Prospect Park map.

SUBWAY: The nearest subway station is 15th St–Prospect Park (F,G), which is NOT wheelchair-accessible. The nearest accessible station is 7th Av (F,G). Visit mta.info for maps and service alerts.
BUS: The B61 travels along 9th Street and Prospect Park West and stops at Bartel-Pritchard Square. All NYC MTA buses are wheelchair accessible, and all accept OMNY with a contactless bank card or smartphone. If traveling by bus, be sure to allow plenty of extra time for your trip, as weekend schedules can be unreliable (visit mta.info for maps and service alerts).
DRIVING AND PARKING: Street parking is somewhat limited in this area but can be found along Prospect Park West, Southwest, and side streets.
BICYCLE: There are bike racks located around the square, and there are several Citi Bike stations in the area.
END POINT: This tour will end near the Vanderbilt Playground, located on Prospect Park Southwest and a short distance from the Fort Hamilton Parkway (F,G) subway station.

Accessibility

We strive to lead the tour over a physically accessible route, but due to construction, weather, or other unforeseen circumstances, we may encounter uneven paths, obstructions, or steep inclines along the tour route. If you do use a wheelchair or have any other accessibility need, please contact us directly and/or include this information when booking, so that we can offer a fully accessible experience.

Please visit our Accessibility Page for the most up-to-date information on all access accommodations.

Prospect Park Alliance

These tours are offered on behalf of the Prospect Park Alliance, a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to restore and maintain Prospect Park after a long period of steady deterioration and decline. The Alliance works to preserve the natural environment, restore historic design, and provide public programs and amenities for the Park, which receives more than 10 million visits each year. If you would like to become the member of the Alliance and support their work, you can add a membership to your purchase when reserving tour tickets. See the different membership levels and benefits.

FAQ

Where do the tours start?

Prospect Park is a 585-acre park located in the center of Brooklyn. Most tours will begin at the Brooklyn Public Library Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza. Some special tours begin and end at different locations, so please take note of this when booking, and read your confirmation message carefully. Click here for Google Maps directions, view our neighborhood map, or view the official Prospect Park map.

SUBWAY: The nearest subway stations are Grand Army Plaza (2,3) and 7th Av (B,Q), both or which are NOT wheelchair-accessible. The nearest accessible station is Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum (2,3). View our map for walking directions from each of these stations, and visit mta.info for maps and service alerts.
BUS: The B41 travels along Flatbush Ave and stops at Brooklyn Public Library. All NYC MTA buses are wheelchair accessible, and all accept OMNY with a contactless bank card or smartphone. If traveling by bus, be sure to allow plenty of extra time for your trip, as weekend schedules can be unreliable (visit mta.info for maps and service alerts).
DRIVING AND PARKING: Street parking is extremely limited in this area. The nearest paid parking lot is located next to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden visitor center at 990 Washington Ave, and it is a 10-minute walk to Brooklyn Public Library.
BICYCLE: There are bike racks located on both the Eastern Parkway and Flatbush Ave sides of the library. There are also several Citi Bike stations in the area.
END POINT: Most public tours end at either the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, located in the southeast corner of the park near the Parkside Av (Q) subway station, or at the Children’s Corner, near the Prospect Park (B,Q,S) station, which is an accessible station.

Is there a lot of walking?

Each tour covers approximately two miles of walking over the course of two hours, and the tour may involve climbing stairs, walking over uneven ground, and across dirt and mud, so we recommend wearing a good pair of walking shoes. Our guides strive to make everyone as comfortable as possible, so we try to provide places to sit or stand in the shade during the tour stops.

Are these tours accessible to people with disabilities?

Please visit our Accessibility Page for the most up-to-date information on all access accommodations.

Is there anywhere to eat after the tour?

Most tours will end at or near the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, where the Bluestone Cafe offers food and drinks until 9pm on Fridays and until 5:30pm on Sundays. If visiting on Sundays, May–October, you can also visit Smorgasburg Prospect Park, which features 40 outdoor food vendors, located on Breeze Hill, a short walk from the last stop on the tour. You can also use this guide to the Little Caribbean neighborhood a short walk away.

What is Prospect Park Alliance?

Prospect Park Alliance is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to restore and maintain Prospect Park after a long period of steady deterioration and decline. The Alliance works to preserve the natural environment, restore historic design, and provide public programs and amenities for the Park, which receives more than 10 million visits each year. The Alliance plays a significant role in funding the operating budget that keeps the Park clean, safe and beautiful, and employs three-quarters of the staff that take care of the Park, including horticulturalists, maintenance workers, arborists, ecologists, educators, volunteer coordinators, and visitor services representatives. Please consider becoming a member of the Alliance to support their work.

View all membership levels and benefits.

Do Alliance members get discounts on tours?

Yes, and thank you for being a member and supporting Prospect Park Alliance! You should have received an email or other member communication that contains a special code that you can enter when booking your tickets to get 25% off. If you can’t find this code, please contact the Prospect Park Alliance membership department.

Are these tours good for kids?

We encourage people of all ages to join our tours of Prospect Park, and we strive to make the tour as engaging as possible for everyone. But any activity that lasts two hours can be a bit much for younger children; luckily, we’re outdoors in a beautiful park where kids can run around! Tickets for children ages 5–12 are half price, and children under 5 are welcome to join the tour for free.

Still have any questions?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out.