For Battle of Brooklyn’s 250th Anniversary, American Battlefield Trust Expands The Liberty Trail to New York

(New York, N.Y.) — Just six weeks after Patriot statesmen in Philadelphia declared independence on July 4, 1776, tens of thousands of troops clashed in one of the largest engagements of the American Revolution, across now-unrecognizable areas of New York City. The Battle of Brooklyn, which marks its 250th anniversary tomorrow, is at the heart of The Liberty Trail New York, a new addition to the growing network of free apps and web tours from the American Battlefield Trust. The Liberty Trail N.Y. website and app guides visitors through key Revolutionary sites across New York State, including Bennington, Fort Ticonderoga, Newtown and Saratoga, in addition to Brooklyn.

Working alongside local historians, preservation organizations and community partners, the Trust created numerous self-guided battlefield tours, complete with place-based biographies and an interactive database of historic sites, all free for visitors. Stops combine text, audio, photography, maps and original artwork to immerse visitors in the events that shaped the nation's founding.

“The Liberty Trail has quickly become one of the best and most interactive ways to explore the stories of the American Revolution,” said Trust President David Duncan. “I look forward to New Yorkers and visitors alike learning about these remarkable historic places as we continue to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the fight for independence.”

This is just the beginning of The Liberty Trail in the Empire State. Residents and tourists can look forward to new content to be added in the months to come — and explore more states in the growing collection. The Liberty Trail began in 2019 with land preservation and interpretation in South Carolina. From there, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina and now, New York, have joined the ranks, creating a connected network of sites telling America’s Revolutionary story.

New York played a pivotal role throughout the American Revolution, as its central position in the American Colonies and its port made it vital to commerce and a key strategic location. After compelling the British evacuation of Boston in the early months of 1776, General George Washington accurately guessed that the Redcoats’ next target would be New York City.

On August 27, 1777, some 30,000 troops clashed in the Battle of Brooklyn (also called the Battle of Long Island). Shortly after fighting began, the British cornered Washington and 9,000 of his men in Brooklyn Heights. He was surrounded on all sides with the East River to his back and no feasible means of winning the battle. Instead of surrendering, Washington evacuated the army and retreated to Manhattan, a decision that saved the Continental Army and the patriot cause. However, New York was left firmly in British hands until the end of the war. Now, 250 years later, people have the chance to learn this history in an all new and engaging way with The Liberty Trail, a battlefield guide in your pocket.

In conjunction with the added stops along The Liberty Trail, the Trust is premiering a new season of Historically Correct, hosted by New Jersey public school teacher Nick Ferroni. The show, which tests visitors on how well they know Revolutionary War history, will debut new episodes on the Trust’s 500,000-subscriber YouTube channel every Sunday starting August 30, with the first episode focused on the Battle of Brooklyn.

The mobile apps of The Liberty Trail are some of more than 30 apps for battlefield trails and sites that have been produced by the Trust, including the Webby Award-winning The Liberty Trail AR and the Anthem Award-winning Medal of Honor Valor Trail. Learn about the variety of apps available here.

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 62,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War across 160 sites in 25 states. Learn more at battlefields.org.

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