Despite a population of more than 2.5 million people that is still growing, Brooklyn still boasts a long list of abandoned locations that beg for discovery. These buildings, once fruitful and prosperous, have fallen into disrepair and now lay abandoned in various stages of decay. Similar to abandoned buildings in The Bronx, many of these spots have caught the eyes of ambitious developers yearning to give the spot a new life. However, shadows of their former lives remain. Here are 10 abandoned places to discover throughout Brooklyn.
1. Floyd Bennett Field
Brooklyn’s Barren Island is home to Floyd Bennett Field, New York’s first municipal airport, which was built in 1931. Sections of the site have been abandoned since the United States Navy deactivated the airfield in 1971. In its heyday, Floyd Bennett Field saw ascents by historic aviators, such as Amelia Earhart and Howard Hughes. With this kind of a storied history, the airfield naturally lends itself to having a few secrets.
Named after Floyd Bennett, a World War I aviator who was recruited to pilot an expedition to the North Pole, the airfield has been the site of many historic flights. One of the most notable flights was Howard Hughes’ 1938 departure to circumnavigate the Earth in record time. In 1941, the airfield shifted from a municipal airport to a Naval Air Station, where those who made and tested aircraft worked during World War II. The airfield soon became the busiest naval air station in the United States. However, following World War II, the NYPD and FDNY made use of the facilities for storage. Today, the airfield is a national park open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.