Standing for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, DUMBO got it’s name in the 1970s when residents of the then manufacturing district thought a catchy name would attract developers. Home to factories, warehouses and the birthplace of the cardboard box, Dumbo wasn’t considered a bustling neighborhood until the late 1990s, thanks to the development of a strong arts community. Today, over 500 tech and creative companies with more than 10,000 employees occupy a 10 block radius. While what they create has changed over time, this area has always been home to makers, innovators, and dreamers.
Tucked away in DUMBO's neighboring hood, Vinegar Hill, is a historical mansion known as the Commandant's House. The mansion was designed by Charles Bulfinch (you know, the guy who designed the U.S. Capitol Building, no big deal) and built in 1805. The mansion was originally part of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and was home to Matthew Perry when he was commanding officer of the shipyard in the 1840s. While the 3-story mansion is now privately owned, it doesn't stop passersby from peering through its iron gates for a prime photo op.
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