Hendrick I. Lott House, built in 1720, has long been a landmark of the community and is opened as a museum after work.
A salon in Hendrick I. Lott House shown in 2016. Photo by Susan de Vries
By Adam Daly, Brooklyn paper
The Hendrick I. Lott House, one of the oldest surviving Dutch colonial houses in Brooklyn, is scheduled to become the first museum of the Marine Park after they are to begin extensive internal renovations in early 2026.
The historic house in East 36th Street in 1970, built in 1720, has long been a landmark of the community. However, the conversion to a fully operative museum will mark a new chapter for the neighborhood and the famous story of the southern Brooklyn, which the city we know today.
According to Alyssa Loorya, President of Friends of the Lott House and director of Chrysalis Archeology, the renovation work, which is expected to take around 18 months, will modernize the infrastructure of the house and at the same time preserve its historical details. Due to the current condition of the property, the work can take longer. After completion, the museum will concentrate on the history of the Lott family, in the surrounding neighborhood and on the various people who have lived and worked on the farm.
“We are really looking forward to the modernization,” Loryya told Brooklyn Paper and found that all renovation work prioritizes the preservation of the historical material and the rescue materials on the property. “If something has happened so long that it is not savable, we will make sure that we document it completely so that we can carry out precise reproductions in the future.”
The friends of the Lott House, a voluntary group that is devoted to the storage of the house and the sharing of their history, has so far played an important role in the restoration efforts. The organization was founded by architects and parishioners in the early nineties and worked with the NYC Parks and the Historic House Trust to restore the impressively intact property, which is supported by $ 4 million in 2013.
The Lott House is located in the Marine Park area, which was settled by the Dutch in 1636, and was one of the earliest parts of New York City. The property served as a large farm or Bouwerij (Bowery) to support the Lower Manhattan with food and products. It was also a place where British troops stored during the Battle of Long Island and was recognized by the state of New York as a stop on the U -Bahn. Archaeologists have also uncovered evidence of spiritual activities by enslaved or formerly enslaved individuals within the house, which they mark them as important cultural and historical site.
“It is a unique opportunity to tell these little thoughts in Brooklyn and New York City a story that is important for so many New Yorkers and the story of New York itself,” said Loorya. “As someone who lives in Deep South Brooklyn, it will be nice to have a cultural institution” that will serve as the goal for the whole city.
Direct descendants of the Lott family occupied the house until 1989 and was later acquired by the city in 2002. Exterior and landscape renovations were completed in 2013, but the interior is largely closed to the public – apart from rare occasional public and private tours. The upcoming renovations include updates for electricity, sanitary, air conditioning and accessibility to ensure that the house can certainly welcome visitors.
As soon as the museum is open, it will contain interpretation programs and exhibitions in which the Lott family's legacy, the history of the farm and the stories of enslaved, immigrants and local workers who have contributed to the development of the region have highlighted.
Loorya said the museum would also use technology to bring individual stories through dynamic exhibitions and exhibitions for life instead of static follow -up of periodic rooms.
“What is most committed is to make the past and people reliable in the past and tell their stories,” said Loorya. “We are lucky that we are at a point in the technology and information availability where we can identify so many people who have worked together in the Lott family and make really wider connections.”
In the meantime, friends of the Lott House will continue to perform practically and on the lawn outside the house. Further information or to support the renovation efforts, visit Lothouse.org.
Note from the publisher: A version of this story that was originally led to Brooklyn Paper. Click here to see the original story.
Related stories
E -mail to tip@brownstoner.com with other comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner X And Instagram and like us on Facebook.