Here’s your chance to go to the top of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Grand Army Plaza. We’ve been meaning to do it for years. I just go this press release from Eugene Patron of Prospect Park, who always keeps me posted on great events there.

Brooklyn, NY – Three of Prospect Park’s architectural treasures, the Litchfield Villa, Lefferts Historic House and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, are included in America’s largest architecture and design event: the Annual openhousenewyork Weekend (OHNY), October 6 & 7.  All OHNY programs at Prospect Park are free. For directions and information see both www.prospectpark.org and www.ohny.org.

The Litchfield Villa is a stunning example of mid-19th century romantic Italian architecture.  Designed by renowned architect A.J. Davis, the Villa was built in 1857 for prominent railroad pioneer and real estate developer Edwin Clark Litchfield.  Less than a decade later, the City of Brooklyn acquired the Villa for inclusion in newly constructed Prospect Park. Today the Villa houses borough headquarters for City of New York/Parks & Recreation, as well as the offices of the Prospect Park Alliance.  Current restorations of the Villa’s interior have been funded by a generous grant from a Litchfield descendent.

On Sunday, October 7, there will be two special guided tours of the Litchfield Villa lead by Ralph Carmosino, AIA of the Prospect Park Alliance, who has overseen the current restorations. These tours at 2pm and 3pm are limited to 20 people each, and are on a first-come basis.  Visitors not able to join these tours may view the lobby and second floor rotunda of the building from on Sunday, from 1 – 4 p.m.

One of the oldest structures featured in OHNY, the 1783 Lefferts Historic House will host three special tours showcasing areas of this Dutch-American farmhouse not ordinarily open to the public.  Times for these special tours are: 11 a.m. Saturday; and 10 & 11 a.m. Sunday.  Call (718) 789-2822 x10 for reservations.

The imposing Sailors and Sailors Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza was built to commemorate the victory of the Union forces in the Civil War. Guided by the Urban Park Rangers, visitors can climb to the top of the arch and take in 360-degree views of Prospect Park, Park Slope, and the Manhattan skyline.  Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (last tour at 3:30 p.m.).