When you think about visiting a beach in New York, you probably think of pristine sand with incredible ocean views. Dead Horse Bay in Brooklyn might be a bit bizarre, but it’s offbeat flare has locals loving it for decades. This Big Apple beach is covered in millions of broken glass bottles, as well as other pieces of “trash” that have become a treasure to many. While some might not give this “treasure trove” a second glance, this bottle-filled beach actually has an interesting history. This beach is an important relic and is littered with remnants of Brooklyn’s past. Let’s learn more about New York’s Dead Horse Bay, and plan a visit to see it yourself in person.
Welcome to Dead Horse Bay. This glass bottle filled beach might not look appealing, but it’s home to quite the history.
stefko / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Located off Barren Island in Brooklyn, you’ll find a small body of water that’s known as Dead Horse Bay, or Glass Bottle Beach. Upon the beach you’ll find millions of glass bottles, as well as many other treasures.
Emmanuel Perez/Google Local While it might be easy to write off this beach as a bay full of trash, it’s actually one of only a few places in New York where history hasn’t changed.
The name “Dead Horse Bay” comes from the fact that this area was home to horse rendering plants in the 1800s, and they named the beach after them in the 1850s.
littleny / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Many different animals were used to make fertilizers, glue, and other products right near this beach. Since the bones from the animals were dumped into the bay, the smell in the air gave this area quite the reputation.
While it’s easy to assume that this beach was created by people littering, much of these “treasures” were put on the beach in 1953.
edwardhblake/Flickr This area was intentionally turned into a landfill after the horse rendering plants closed, and much of the bottles and debris are from way back then. Some people say that this beach is just trash, but these are truly archaeological artifacts of New York City.
The saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” couldn’t be anymore true here, as many locals take this glass home, clean it, and turn it into art.
Dead Horse Bay/Facebook Another myth about Dead Horse Beach is that it’s filled with trash that you might throw away in your house. However, these “treasures” are actually various pieces of torn down buildings, making for quite the relics of history, and a great medium for art.
It would be easy to write off Dead Horse Bay as rubbish, but the millions of glass bottles each have a story behind them.
stacey a. keith/Google Local Besides, it’s not every day that you see a New York beach quite like this.
Dead Horse Bay is covered with thousands of glass bottles, old tires, and other treasures, but it points back to New York history in the most bizarre and fascinating way.
stefko / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Did you know about the history behind this Brooklyn treasure beach? Have you ever been to Dead Horse Bay? We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
stefko / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Emmanuel Perez/Google Local
While it might be easy to write off this beach as a bay full of trash, it’s actually one of only a few places in New York where history hasn’t changed.
littleny / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Many different animals were used to make fertilizers, glue, and other products right near this beach. Since the bones from the animals were dumped into the bay, the smell in the air gave this area quite the reputation.
edwardhblake/Flickr
This area was intentionally turned into a landfill after the horse rendering plants closed, and much of the bottles and debris are from way back then. Some people say that this beach is just trash, but these are truly archaeological artifacts of New York City.
Dead Horse Bay/Facebook
Another myth about Dead Horse Beach is that it’s filled with trash that you might throw away in your house. However, these “treasures” are actually various pieces of torn down buildings, making for quite the relics of history, and a great medium for art.
stacey a. keith/Google Local
Besides, it’s not every day that you see a New York beach quite like this.
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Address: Dead Horse Bay, Brooklyn, NY 11234, USA
