Meaning “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”, Dumbo is known as the neighborhood that greets you as you cross from Manhattan to Brooklyn.
With its stunning skyline views, cobblestone streets, and thriving art galleries and community of street art, tech, and small business, Dumbo is more than just a neighborhood. With its artistic activities and atmosphere that supports creativity, Dumbo is a place where culture lovers find peace.
Historical World of Dumbo
Apart from its beautiful relationship with the arts, Dumbo is an area of Brooklyn that connects the past and the future, with its restored 18th-century industrial architecture and beautiful waterfront streets. The disused train tracks remind visitors of Dumbo's factory-filled past.
When the neighborhood was first established, it was overflowing with industrial and warehouse buildings, manufacturing machinery, paper parcels, and a very busy ferry port called Fulton Landing, which provided quick access to Manhattan.
In fact, the region was producing in such a large amount that this situation resulted in the invention of the cardboard box by Scottish immigrant Robert Gair. For this reason, Dumbo is also commonly referred to as Gairville.
By the 1970s, New York had decided to deindustrialize and the buildings in this area were turned into an opportunity by artists looking for cheap apartments and workshops. The name DUMBO first appeared in this period.
At the end of the 20th century, an investor named David Walentas bought the entire neighborhood, turning it into a luxury residential and commercial area.
Closing factories have evolved into arts centers, tech startups, and expansive luxury penthouses. The factory, where Robert Gair's cardboard boxes were invented, continues to be the headquarters of Etsy. Likewise, 25% of New York's big technology companies have their headquarters in this region. For this reason, this area is also referred to as the "Center of the Brooklyn Technology Triangle".
Exploring DUMBO As A Tourist
Don't be fooled by so many companies in it, Dumbo is one of Brooklyn's most charming and pleasant neighborhoods. Even though it's a ferry distance from Manhattan, Dumbo gives its guests the feel of a small town with its sightseeing streets, small shops and artistic spaces.
This region, which hosts the most concert and performance venues and art galleries in NY, can welcome you with various events on different days of the week. Also Dumbo Arts Festival is one of the most important events in DUMBO.
If you're open during your art trip, you can find plenty of top-notch dining restaurants in the area. You can dine in the best Italian restaurant, then visit the delicious chocolate shops and take a hot coffee break.
If you're here for shopping, Dumbo will satisfy you in this regard as well. The buildings, which were used as coffee shops during the Civil War, are now a good market for local vendors.
If you're looking for some action, the largest climbing hall in North America is located here again. Or, you're into boxing, you can visit Gleason's Gym where Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson train.
But of course, after an active tour in the streets of DUMBO, what we recommend to you is to lie on the grass in Brooklyn Bridge Park and enjoy your rest.
The Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park is one of DUMBO's most visited and time-spent venues.
Looking back at the history of this park, it is a pier designed for the steam-powered ferry of the Fulton Ferry Company, developed by Robert Fulton, to transport goods across the river during the busy period of the factories.
However, with the completion of the construction of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, which facilitated transportation by river, ferry transportation lost its importance and the port became dysfunctional.
The Downtown Brooklyn Waterfront Local Development Company, which was established as a result of the revaluation of the factories that closed in the area as workplaces and residences, planned to turn this pier into a public park. This 1.3-mile-long project was completed in 2010.
In this park with a view of Manhattan, you can have a good time lying on the grass under the trees and enjoying the scent of flowers. If you want to focus on your communication with the water, you can canoe and spend time on the beach.
Transport: A , C , F Lines
