Learn Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Gowanus Canal From Author Joseph Alexiou

Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal, known for its unmistakable odor and Superfund status, is also a window into history. From the early days of Brooklyn industry through to the present wave of residential development, the Gowanus is a handy touchstone for following Brooklyn’s trajectory as a city on the global stage.

Joseph Alexiou, author of Gowanus: Brooklyn’s Curious Canal, will have a lively discussion about the controversial waterway with Brownstoner reporter Hannah Frishberg at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 12 at the Museum of the City of New York.

The conversation will focus on not only Alexiou’s research, but the current impact of development on the neighborhood surrounding the Gowanus. We hope to see you there.

As a mini-preview of the event, here are some highlights from Hannah Frishberg’s 2015 interview with Alexiou:

• Alexiou was inspired to explore the history of the Gowanus after the unfortunate incident of Sludgie the Whale — a lost baby minke that beached itself near Clinton Street in 2007.
• The Gowanus Canal has been an open sewer since it was first created, and is “one of the most compelling Superfund sites in America,” according to Alexiou.
• The real estate dynamics of today’s Brooklyn are much the same as they were a century and a half ago, with savvy developers and politicians working to shape the city.

A reception and book signing will follow the MCNY discussion. You can buy tickets here.

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An Interview With Joseph Alexiou, Author of Gowanus History Book
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