Saturday, May 4, 1 pm – 4 pm
Free
One of the first tide mills in America once stood not far from where Proteus Gowanus stands today. Brouwer’s Mill, built in the mid-17th century, used the power of the Gowanus Creek’s rising and falling tides to turn wheat into flour. During the Battle of Brooklyn, the mill and its bridge burned, forcing soldiers to cross the rising waters of Gowanus Creek. This workshop will uncover the little known history of tide mills in Brooklyn, as families work together to build their own miniature mills.
Angela Kramer is a museum educator who loves history and who recently discovered a passion for the tide mills of the Gowanus. She works with school groups at the Old Stone House.
After the workshop, visit Angela’s Tide Mill installation, part of the Battle Ground exhibit at ProteusGowanus, where you can record Gowanus tide levels and grind wheat. Also on view in our alleyway is the drawn “footprint” of the historic Brouwer’s Mill residence.
The Tide Mill Family Workshop is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
