Brooklyn Sanitary Fair

During the Civil War, fairs were organized by local charities and women’s organizations in coordination with the United States Sanitary Commission to raise money for clothing, food, medical supplies, and other provisions for the Union Army. The highly successful Brooklyn Sanitary Fair, hosted at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, then on Montague Street, raised funds through special events such as the Calico Ball and ongoing attractions including moving dioramas (a precursor to motion pictures), live music, a soda bar, and a Museum of Arts, Relics, and Curiosities.

This interior view of the Brooklyn Academy of Music depicts the space as it appeared from the second-story balcony.