Fulton Ferry is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is named for a prominent ferry line crossing the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn, and is also the name of the ferry slip on the Brooklyn side. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 2.
Manhattan Bridge under construction in 1909, showing ferry landing and Empire Store warehouse on left (extant as of 2007)
Though boats and sail ferries called at these locations since the 18th century, the inauguration of Robert Fulton’s steam Fulton Ferry Company in 1814 established his name on the ferry service, which revolutionized travel between the then City of New York on Manhattan Island and the Village of Brooklyn and the rest of Long Island.
The opening of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge in 1883 assured the decline of this and other ferries on the East River. Fulton Ferry service ended in 1924.
The major thoroughfares leading to the Fulton Ferry from both landings were (and are) named Fulton Street; see Fulton Street (Manhattan) and Fulton Street (Brooklyn).
The BMT Fulton Street Line and BMT Lexington Avenue Line (or “Old Main Line”) elevated railways both ended at the Brooklyn side of the ferry, but were later moved with the majority of trips using the Brooklyn Bridge.
The only services to the pier currently are New York Water Taxi’s East River Commuter and seasonal Hop-on/Hop-off services.
