Founded in 1863, The Brooklyn Historical Society is a library, museum and education center dedicated to illuminating the rich heritage of Brooklyn's diverse peoples and cultures, past and present.
    The Brooklyn Historical Society fosters an appreciation and understanding of the benefits and challenges of life today in a diverse, urban community. The Society fulfills its mission by offering programs and services that appeal to youth, adults, scholars and family audiences. By focusing attention on original artifacts, documents, and other tangible materials, the Society helps visitors identify with Brooklyn's heritage and, in turn, initiates dialogue, promotes social awareness, and seeks to encourage understanding among Brooklynites.  A small and flexible institution, the Society believes in responding quickly and readily to the changing needs and aspirations of its community.
    In recent years, the Society has become one of a small group of institutions nationwide that is helping to set a new agenda for historical societies in urban America.  As a result, its projects have received national attention and are cited as models by professional organizations, government agencies, and museum colleagues.  Originally founded as The Long Island Historical Society, it has served the people of Brooklyn and beyond for over 130 years and has been called The Brooklyn Historical Society since 1985.