Brooklyn Borough Hall, New York

Brooklyn Borough Hall—the “founding father” Brooklyn clad in marble—is the borough’s oldest public building and the onetime nerve center of the independent City of Brooklyn. Back in the day, this place was practically a one-stop municipal universe. The mayor worked here, the City Council debated here, the courtroom kept order, and yes—even a jail was tucked inside. Early 19th-century efficiency: all your civic drama under one roof...

The mastermind behind all this was Gamaliel King, Brooklyn’s go-to architect for both grand government buildings and equally grand churches. He started making his mark in the 1820s and later designed standout structures like the 12th Street Reformed Church in Park Slope. Borough Hall was one of his boldest statements, wrapped in Greek Revival confidence and gleaming with Tuckahoe marble—a look that basically declared, “Yes, this is government, and yes, it’s impressive.”

By the time the 1980s rolled around, the building needed more than a little freshening up. So, Brooklyn gave it the architectural equivalent of a full spa treatment. Stonework was revived, the cupola got brand-new copper shingles, and the roof earned stainless-steel cladding worthy of a superhero suit. Even the statue of Virtue—planned in the original design but never executed—was finally brought to life using old sketches. The surrounding plaza was raised, a decorative iron fence installed, and historic-style lighting set the whole scene glowing again.

Today, Borough Hall still anchors Brooklyn’s Civic Center with all the gravitas of a seasoned statesman who’s aged remarkably well. It’s not just a relic of the borough’s past—it’s a polished reminder of Brooklyn’s civic pride, restored and ready for generations of admirers, gawkers, and history lovers alike.