Past Exhibits October 2003 to Present

"The Secret Lives of Streets" Exhibition Laboratory: Teen Organized Exhibit

Walking in Brooklyn, have you ever wondered how streets such as Pineapple, Cranberry and Orange got their names? Was Jay Street named after Jay-Z? Was the name Vinegar Hill coined because of a distinct odor? Ten teens from local high schools, all with an interest in history and museums, asked these same questions as part of the Exhibition Laboratory. Explore and learn how culture, historic events, and notable Brooklyn residents factored into the naming of the streets that we walk everyday.

"Exhibition Laboratory", a pilot after-school program is made possible through the generous funding of Robert S. Rubin, Timothy Bradley and the Laura Vogler Foundation. Students from Brooklyn Technical High School, Packer Collegiate Institute, and Saint Ann’s School learned about the process of curating an exhibit from start to finish. With the help of Brooklyn Historical Society staff, students mined the collection for art and artifacts pertaining to this theme. They conducted extensive background research, wrote the explanatory text which will illuminate this history, and chose specific graphic design elements to complete the look and feel of the exhibit experience. The students wish to celebrate their accomplishment and look forward to greeting you at the opening of the exhibit. The opening will include special guests Leonard Benardo and Jennifer Weiss, authors of the recently published "Brooklyn By Name", an account of how the neighborhoods, streets, parks, bridges and more got their names.

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