A History of Brooklyn In 20 Objects (“Objects” Being Very Loosely Defined)
14) 1898
So, this isn’t actually an OBJECT, but this year is iconic in Brooklyn’s history, because this is the year that all five boroughs became incorporated into one larger City of New York. No more was Brooklyn the “Twin City” of New York, as was referenced in the Emma Lazarus poem that graces the base of the Statue of Liberty. It’s not that Brooklyn was diminished exactly, but, well, let’s face it—Brooklyn was diminished by this. More than one hundred years later, Brooklyn is diminished by no one, especially not some dinky, little phallic island to our direct north-west. Brooklyn is part of Long Island, after all, and that’s the largest and most phallic island in the WORLD. Yeah, Brooklyn!