Sin, Scandal & Blood in the Shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge

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Discover the sinister side of Brooklyn Heights & Dumbo

Take a walk with Boroughs of the Dead and explore unforgettable accounts of poisonings, tragic deaths, grisly discoveries, violence, public unrest, and long‑buried scandals. These dark narratives unfold as we wander past remarkable architecture in Brooklyn’s Historic District and continue toward the waterfront and the Brooklyn Bridge.

The stories we discuss have influenced writers such as Truman Capote and Arthur Miller. We also look at how the waterfront and the looming presence of the bridge created space for social boundary‑pushing, from the provocative to the unsettling.

Stops on the tour include:

  • The home connected to a mysterious suicide
  • Two once‑luxurious hotels in Brooklyn’s Historic District with troubled histories
  • Truman Capote’s residence, where he wrote In Cold Blood
  • A former artist colony where a burlesque performer found inspiration for a tale of murder
  • Waterfront locations tied to chilling and violent crimes

This tour was created and will be led by Marie Carter, author of Mortimer and the Witches.

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Tour at a Glance
Start Location:

144 Montague Street

End Location:

34 Front Street

Tour Duration:

2 hours

Distance:

1.5 miles

Tour Run Dates:

May - June

Important Information
Adults

$40

Important Information

WHAT TO BRING

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Weather-appropriate clothing
  • Cash (or your preferred app, i.e. Venmo) if you want to tip your guide

WHAT NOT TO BRING

  • Pets
  • Drugs and/or alcohol
  • Film/photography/recording equipment without prior permission

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

  • Tours run rain or shine, so dress appropriately for the weather! (See our advice here)
  • Wear comfortable shoes! Most of our tours are at least a mile in length.
  • In the event of extreme or severe weather conditions, this tour may be amended or postponed; if postponed you will be given a rain check to take another tour at your convenience.
  • There are no bathroom breaks or rest stops on the tour.
  • Tours start on time, so please try to get to the meeting point 15 minutes early to give yourself time to check in and get comfortable before the tour starts.