The massive Beaux-Arts building of the Brooklyn Museum opened in 1897. But the roots of the institution date back to the 1820s with the founding of the Brooklyn Apprentices’ Library in Brooklyn Heights. That organization, though venue moves and mergers eventually became the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences in 1890, with the Museum as one of its subdivisions. (The other institutions under the Arts and Sciences umbrella were the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Brooklyn Children's Museum.)

Designed by McKim, Mead, and White, the museum building was constructed in sections. The first wing opened in 1897, the central pavilion was completed in 1905, and the final original wing (which included the sky-lit Beaux-Art Court) was not fully finished until 1926.

Despite the massive structure, the building as completed in the 1920s was only a section of the original design.

The collections of the museum seek to celebrate the heritage of art throughout the world. Known for its rich collection of antiquities, the museum works to educate its visitors about their objects' history, culture, and artistic importance.

The staircase of the building has always been a contentious feature. The large staircase leading up to the entrance was only completed after the central wing opened in 1905.

In 1934 the Municipal Art Commission (without the knowledge of the architects) approved the removal of the front staircase in an effort to create a more direct and "democratic" entrance.

Finally, in the early 2000s, architect James Polshek designed a new glass entrance pavilion that included a stepped roof, a stepped amphitheater, and terraced lawns. While it was praised by many, there were also many critics (particularly historic preservationists) who thought that it was garish and inappropriate. It is well-loved by the skateboarding teens of Brooklyn, though.