DUMBO occupies the industrial blocks between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, where brick factories and cobbled streets meet dramatic bridge frames. Its name describes its position, while its present identity reflects a shift from manufacturing to mixed urban life.
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Stand where the Manhattan Bridge frames the street and the neighborhood’s name becomes literal: DUMBO means Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. The acronym was adopted by residents in 1978 as they worked to strengthen the identity of an area facing development pressure.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.
- Residents chose the name in 1978.
- The area developed as a manufacturing and shipping district before adaptive reuse.
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