As the nation celebrates its 250th birthday, an exhibition at the Center for Brooklyn History is highlighting Brooklyn's pivotal role in the American Revolution.

"Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered" examines the largest battle of the Revolutionary War, fought in Brooklyn in August 1776, shortly after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The exhibition tells the story of the Continental Army's first major clash with British forces and the strategic retreat led by George Washington that helped keep the American Revolution alive.

Visitors can explore rare historic maps that show what Brooklyn looked like in 1776, including neighborhoods whose names remain familiar today, such as Bushwick, Flatbush and Gravesend.

Curators say the exhibition not only explores the battle itself, but also how Brooklyn has remembered and commemorated the event over the past 250 years.

The free exhibition includes weekly tours and will remain on display through the end of the year.