The largest battle of the Revolutionary War was fought across ground that is now a Brooklyn park, and Battle Pass is the specific choke point where the fighting concentrated— a detail almost nobody walking past knows. On its 250th anniversary, Alliance guides walk you through the terrain, the troop positions and the traces still visible, in an hour, for nothing. If you have jogged past this spot a hundred times without knowing what happened there, take the tour once.
What to expect
A guide leads a walking group through Prospect Park to the Battle Pass site, stopping to explain how the ridgeline shaped the engagement and where the opposing lines stood. The route is roughly an hour on park paths with some gentle grade. Groups are small enough for questions along the way.
Good to know
- Free and led by Prospect Park Alliance guides; no ticket needed
- The B/Q to Prospect Park or the 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza both put you near the start
- About an hour of walking on park paths — wear shoes you can walk in
- Some gentle uphill, since the whole point is the ridgeline
- Good for history-curious adults and older kids rather than toddlers
- It runs rain or shine unless conditions are severe, so dress for the weather
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Common questions
What is Battle Pass?
It is the gap through the Gowanus Heights inside what is now Prospect Park, where American and British forces met during the Battle of Brooklyn.
How long is the tour?
About one hour, on foot, along park paths.
Does it cost anything?
No. Prospect Park Alliance runs the tour free of charge.
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