Domino Sugar Refinery

The Domino Sugar Refinery is a large industrial complex along the East River featuring red brick buildings and a prominent smokestack. The site was rebuilt after a major fire in 1882 and now functions as a mixed-use development with residential and commercial spaces.

The facility was founded in 1856 and quickly grew into one of the world's largest sugar refineries. It played a major role during the American Civil War and remained a cornerstone of Brooklyn's economy for many decades.

The site shows how Brooklyn transformed from an industrial powerhouse into a mixed-use neighborhood. People visit to see the historic brick structures alongside new development, understanding how the city adapted its working waterfronts.

The site is located in Williamsburg and is accessible on foot from the Bedford Avenue L train station or the Metropolitan Avenue G train stop. The complex sits directly on the waterfront, and the surrounding areas offer good views of the structures.

The refinery's smokestack is the most recognizable feature and was once visible across the entire city. Today it remains one of the few preserved elements from the original era, showing the scale of early industrial production.