“A child who knows their past, walks into the future with armor.”
-Rosetta Gaston
The mission of Brownsville Heritage House Inc. is to provide cultural and educational programs that enrich communities through the collection, study, exhibition, and dissemination of historical artifacts related to African American and other ethnic cultures. We develop and implement programs in art, poetry, drama, music, literature, and audio/visual creative works to foster meaningful intergenerational engagement between youth and elders.
Brownsville Heritage House strives to serve as one of the cultural epicenters for Brooklyn—bridging the past, present, and future—and offering a space where all people can explore, appreciate, and celebrate the richness of shared human heritage.
Our Founder
Rosetta Gaston is the founder and visionary of Brownsville Heritage House Inc. Although small in stature, she had a big vision for an educational and cultural center for young and old that would spark individual and community achievements by focusing on a common heritage.
Mother Gaston, as she was affectionately known, realized early on that the one element missing from our community, was the knowledge of our culture. She decided to do something about it. In 1969 she started the Children's Cultural Corner out of her home, where she taught young minds about their culture and history. This laid the foundation for the Brownsville Heritage House Inc. founded March 28, 1981.
“When you teach truth, you plant roots.”
Rosetta Gaston
ROOTS, RISE AND RENEWAL
The second-floor space above the Stone Avenue Branch Library was secured through the dedicated efforts of former U.S. Congressmen Edolphus Towns and Major Owens, the latter of whom had once served as a librarian at the Stone Avenue Branch. Their support helped bring to life a dream that had been nurtured for over fifty years. Although Mother Rosetta Gaston passed away at the age of 96 just one month before the Brownsville Heritage House officially opened its doors in March 1981, her vision and legacy remain deeply embedded in its foundation.
Since its founding, BHH has remained a vital extension of the community—a space that fosters artistic expression, cultural celebration, and personal empowerment. By honoring historical legacy while embracing 21st-century innovation, BHH continues to serve as a guiding light for future generations, inspiring creativity, connection, and progress..