The Old Stone House, also known as the Vechte-Cortelyou House, is a replica of a Dutch stone farmhouse with a very rich history. The original house was built by Claes Arentson Vechte, a Dutch immigrant, beside the Gowanus Creek in 1699. Its two-foot thick wall of fieldstone and brick and its heavily shuttered windows protected the family. The Vechtes prospered, farming the rich bottomland beneath the Heights of Guam (the hills of Park Slope), harvesting oysters in the Gowanus Creek (now the Gowanus Canal), and ferrying -produce to market in Manhattan. At that time, this area was in the village of Gowanus within the old Town of Breukelen.

The Battle of Brooklyn was fought in Brooklyn between August 22 and August 27, 1776. The Battle of Brooklyn (sometimes referred to as the Battle of Long Island) was the first engagement of the army of England and the army of the United States of America. It was the largest battle of the War for Independence. The exhibit at the Old Stone House tells the story of that crucial battle and of the heroic acts by the Americans involved.

Today, the Old Stone House is an Historic Interpretive Center, operated by the First Battle Revival Alliance (FBRA). FBRA is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the Old Stone House as an icon of American History. FBRA studies, publicizes, and preserves the heritage of the Old Stone House through changing exhibits on the first floor and school and public programs. The Old Stone House is a member of the NYC Historic House Trust, and is operated under license agreement with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation.

The Center exhibit "the Battle Of Brooklyn, 1776" is open to the public on Saturdays from 12 to 3 pm and to groups by appointment.