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Open House New York: Get to know notable NYC sites for free

We’ve all heard of the New York Botanical Gardens and the Brooklyn Army Terminal. But did you know the sprawling Bronx oasis was founded in 1891 and has 250 acres? Or that the Army Terminal was constructed by the military in 1918, serving as the largest military supply in the U.S. through World War II? Or that the South Street Seaport is Manhattan’s oldest intact neighborhood?

On Oct. 15 and 16, New Yorkers interested in learning more about their city can stop by dozens of free sites throughout the five boroughs during Open House New York. There are tours, free admission to parks and churches and discussions happening Saturday and Sunday.

The goal of the annual weekend, hosted by nonprofit Open House New York, is to promote a greater appreciation of the city’s architecture, engineering and design.

This year, about 250 city buildings and landmarks are participating, more than half being “open access” and requiring no reservation. Here are some places from all five boroughs that piqued our interest. For the full list of “open houses” check out ohny.org