Prospect Park Alliance is launching a season of free, family-oriented programming at Lefferts Historic House beginning in May 2026, featuring exhibitions, performances, talks and cultural celebrations centered on Brooklyn history and memory.
The museum, operated by the Alliance in partnership with the Historic House Trust, presents programming focused on the histories of Indigenous Lenapehoking communities and Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family.
A key highlight is The Shirley Chisholm Way: Brooklyn’s Blueprint for Change, opening May 14 and on view through November 15.
Organized with the Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute, the exhibition is structured around seven lessons drawn from Shirley Chisholm’s political career and includes portraits by Al Johnson alongside archival photographs and campaign materials curated by Barbara Bullard. It highlights Chisholm’s legacy as the first Black woman elected to Congress and previews a planned monument at Parkside and Ocean Avenue set for installation in 2027.
“Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s unwavering advocacy in the face of immense prejudice is an inspiration to those in her home of Brooklyn and beyond,” said Morgan Monaco, president of Prospect Park Alliance. “We are honored to collaborate with Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute on such an important part of our Lefferts programming. As we prepare for the installation of a monument to the congresswoman at the park’s southeast entrance, this exhibit ensures her legacy is passed on to future generations.”
Season programming begins May 17 with a Pinkster celebration featuring music, storytelling and cultural demonstrations honoring traditions preserved by Africans enslaved in Brooklyn.
On May 25, the Alliance will present Remembering the U.S. Colored Troops of Brooklyn, a Memorial Day program honoring Black Civil War soldiers, including readings of Frederick Douglass’ 1863 Brooklyn speech and the names of enlisted men who served.
On May 31, photographer Jamel Shabazz and community leader Richard Green will discuss the role of art and Prospect Park in shaping Brooklyn life over the past four decades, drawing from Shabazz’s photography book documenting 45 years in the park.
On June 19, Juneteenth programming continues with MAJOR, a dance work by Ogemdi Ude in collaboration with Danspace Project, exploring majorette traditions, Black girlhood and embodied cultural memory through performance and archival work.
Long-term installations remain on view, including Ancestral Whispers by Adama Delphine Fawundu and Voices of Lunáapeew/Lenape, both focusing on Indigenous and African diasporic histories tied to Brooklyn.
Lefferts Historic House operates seasonally from May through November, with programming available on weekends and select weekdays. All events are free, with RSVP required through Prospect Park Alliance.
