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Last week the class met at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn. A park with a significant history. A site of the Revolutionary War fort, and monument dedicated to the prison ship martyrs, who where held by the British.

As I walked up the grand stairs looking at the monument, it felt like the monument was a “light house” showing the direction. We all met in front of the Visitor’s Center. There was Greg Trupiano the leader of the tour. A very knowledgeable and inspiring person. The tour started with an Nicole, a opera singer who sang Oh Freedom. Mr. Trupiano started the tour with history of the park, and made connection with Walt Whitman history. In the meanwhile Mr. Trupiano had invited a reader, who read loud the passages from Whitman. In that beautiful fall day, Whitman passages were powerful throw the voice of reader.

Walt Whitman loved the Brooklyn, and he also wrote about the Fort Greene Park saying that “Brooklyn needs lungs.” He was concerned about the future, and the people of his city.

After we moved down to the entrance of the vault were the bones of the prisoners are buried. Tour leader explained that in the crypt was only one full body skeleton, who is believed to be Benjamin Romaine. The bones are collected from the shore, what is now know as Navy Yard.

From there we moved to the intersection of the Myrtle Avenue and Portland Avenue, where Whitman lived. Now there is the new building build by the city and named “Walt Whitman Houses.”

The final destination was the 99 Ryerson Street the only house that stand, where Whitman lived. The building has gone through some changes and it is not exactly the same, as it was, when Whitman lived there.

A great tour and very informative.

Here is a link to the images taken in the tour: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45007764@N06/?saved=1