Aerial photo of Brooklyn Navy Yard. Photo courtesy Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation.

During the height of its industrial growth, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, also known as The United States Navy Yard and the New York Naval Shipyard (NYNS), covered over 200 acres and employed 70,000 workers during World War II. As one of the nation’s “most storied naval shipbuilding facilities,” the shipyard once produced famous battle ships, including the USS Maine and the USS Arizona. While it no longer welcomes huge marine battle vessels, the industrial yard remains a bustling working center. Today, it’s home to over 330 businesses, helping to generate over $2 billion in annual revenue for the city per year.

10. There is a Rooftop Vineyard in the Brooklyn Navy Yard

As the website of Rooftop Reds notes, the Brooklyn Navy Yard isn’t typically the first place that comes to mind when someone thinks of viticulture. Yet, it’s home to the “world’s first commercially viable rooftop vineyard in New York City.” The 14,800-square-feet space utilizes a unique urban planter system (the first of its kind) developed with the help of Cornell University and Finger Lake industry leaders.