The Brooklyn Bridge in New York information and interesting facts

The Brooklyn Bridge In New York City, in my opinion, is a place that should be on your list of city attractions.

When asking someone who has visited New York about the symbol of the Big Apple, one of the first answers is: the Brooklyn Bridge. Interestingly, as research shows, people who have never been on the bridge say the same. We were there, and we think we know why this is the case.

What made this structure one of the most recognizable landmarks in New York? I suppose it is due to the charm and location of the Brooklyn Bridge. We thoroughly observed it from the neighbouring bridges and walked its entire length over the East River. The bridge is simply beautiful and fits perfectly with its location.

The Beginnings of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York

The Brooklyn Bridge owes its existence to a series of coincidences. Before it was built over this part of the East River, there was a ferry crossing. The city’s population was growing, traffic increased every month, and city authorities didn’t know how to handle it. Eventually, it was decided that New York would fund an additional crossing and purchase several new ferries.

Around the same time, a well-known engineer and bridge builder was unfortunately stuck on one of the ferries, which was immobilized on the river after colliding with an ice floe. A few hours on the boat angered our protagonist so much that he grabbed a pencil and sketched the initial design of a future bridge connecting Manhattan with Brooklyn in his notebook. This engineer was John Roebling, and the Brooklyn Bridge was the last project he oversaw.

Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge

The construction of the bridge lasted 14 years and was very challenging for both investors and the builders. Costs rose so quickly that by the middle of the construction, the anticipated budget was exceeded. Designers made many changes during construction, raising costs and stressing workers and technicians responsible for the project.

Working conditions were so poor that few people stayed on the construction site for more than a few weeks. Safety was also a major concern. Hundreds of workers died, and there were many dangerous accidents.

The bridge was built in the Gothic style, with all its intricacy and embellishments. The main building materials were stone, hard granite, and steel. At the time of its construction, the bridge was the most advanced structure of its kind and also the longest suspension bridge in the world. The construction utilized a new type of steel cable designed by John Roebling himself.

The Project’s Grand Scale

The scale of the project was astounding for its time. The bridge featured lanes for horse-drawn vehicles, rail tracks in both directions, and tram tracks. Pedestrian walkways were also provided. I believe that modern bridges are rarely built with such grandeur and foresight. The total cost of the investment was eighteen million dollars, a huge amount.

The dimensions of the Brooklyn Bridge are also impressive. Its total length is 1834 meters, with the main suspension span nearly half a kilometre long. It hangs over the water, attached to two enormous pylons, each over eighty meters above the water. To ensure stability and safety, the pylons required foundations extending thirteen meters below the riverbed. The Manhattan-side pylon goes even deeper, reaching twenty-four meters into the ground.

Four steel cables, over a kilometre long and forty centimetres in diameter, support the entire structure. These cables, composed of nineteen strands each made up of 278 steel wires, were also designed by Roebling.

Construction began in 1869 and was completed in 1883. The bridge opened on May 24th, marking a significant event for the entire city. On the first day alone, 150,000 people crossed from Manhattan to Brooklyn. The initial toll was one cent.

The Brooklyn Bridge as a New York City Symbol

The Brooklyn Bridge quickly became a city symbol and remains so today. It is featured on most postcards and advertisements of New York City alongside Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and Central Park.

Today, only cars and pedestrians can use the bridge. The railway was discontinued at the beginning of the 20th century. There are six lanes for cars, three in each direction, and a walkway above the street for pedestrians. We noticed significant traffic, mainly tourists but also locals from Manhattan and Brooklyn who frequently use the passage.

On the bridge, you can encounter artists and often hustlers trying to sell worthless souvenirs to tourists. However, there is a very pleasant atmosphere, and the incredible views of Manhattan compensate for the effort of walking over the East River.

The Brooklyn Bridge Facts, Information and interesting facts

• The excellence of the Brooklyn Bridge’s construction is evidenced by the fact that many similar structures have been destroyed by natural forces and accidents, yet the Brooklyn Bridge still stands in excellent condition.
• The bridge has typically changed names. Initially, it was called the Great Bridge over the East River, then the Great Suspension Bridge over the East River, and later the New York Bridge. It wasn’t until 1915 that the city authorities officially named it the Brooklyn Bridge.
• The bridge’s concept and construction were overseen by engineer John Augustus Roebling, and it was affectionately called Roebling’s child. Unfortunately, he died before its completion. His duties were taken over by his son, Washington Augustus Roebling, also an engineer.
• The steel cables used to suspend the bridge’s spans were Roebling’s idea. He also recognized steel, a relatively new material at the time, as the metal of the future.
• After taking over from his father, Washington Roebling dedicated himself to his duties, spending long hours with workers on the construction site. While working on the riverbed, he supervised the foundation excavation for the enormous pylons. He spent so much time there that he eventually fell ill due to high air pressure and nearly died.
• While Washington Roebling was recovering in a Manhattan flat, his wife, Emily Warren Roebling, took over the bridge’s construction. She was also a very skilled engineer and the first woman to graduate from New York University with a degree in engineering, despite the male-dominated academic environment. Emily is still regarded as an early feminist who fought against gender inequality.
• Many historians claim that the beauty of the Brooklyn Bridge is, thanks to Roebling’s wife, as she made many visual improvements to the design. She was also the first person to cross the completed bridge by carriage, a week before the official opening, even before the President of the United States.
• The Brooklyn Bridge attracted great interest and admiration after its opening, but there were also accidents. A few days after the opening, a woman began shouting that the bridge was breaking and about to collapse into the water. New Yorkers, having seen many structures fail against natural forces, panicked. In the ensuing chaos, twelve people died, and over thirty were seriously injured.
• Following this incident, city residents approached the bridge with caution. Many preferred alternative crossings over the river. The city decided to reassure residents of the bridge’s safety. They enlisted the help of a popular circus owner, who marched over the bridge with more than twenty elephants. For weeks, the press wrote that if elephants could walk on the bridge, then people certainly could.
• The pylons of the Brooklyn Bridge house large rooms just below the water level. Thick stone walls provided a low and constant temperature, ideal for storing wine. Producers and distributors of this noble drink were willing to pay high rent for these rooms.
• During restoration work in 2010, it was decided to return the monument to its original colour. However, no one knew what colour the Brooklyn Bridge was on its opening day. All documents stated that the bridge was painted in a very modern style. After a long investigation, it was determined that the original colour was probably light brown.
• The Brooklyn Bridge was the longest bridge in the world for over 20 years. In 1903, it was surpassed by just two meters by the Williamsburg Bridge, another New York City bridge.
• The bridge is stunning, especially when viewed from a boat sailing on the East River at night. I highly recommend such a cruise, as all of Manhattan is magically illuminated.
• The Brooklyn Bridge is considered one of the most beautiful bridges in the world.

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