Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge connecting the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. It spans 5,989 feet (1825 m) over the East River. At the time of its completion, it was the largest suspension bridge in the world. It was the first steel-wire suspension bridge and was 50% longer than any previous bridges built before it.

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Bridge_NY.jpg
Author: Tiago Fioreze


Brooklyn Bridge was originally called the New York and Brooklyn Bridge. It was only called Brooklyn Bridge since 1867 through a letter to the editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

Brooklyn Bridge was designed by John Augustus Roebling of Trenton, New Jersey. Roebling had earlier designed and constructed other suspension bridges, including the Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge in Cincinnati, Ohio and the Waco Suspension Bridge in Waco, Texas. Brooklyn Bridge is based on the Waco Suspension Bridge design.

Pedestrian walkway on the Brooklyn Bridge
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Bridge_I.jpg
Author: Martin Dürrschnabel


Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began on 3 January 1870. It was only completed 13 years later. The bridge cost $15.1 million, and 27 people died during its construction. Another 12 died in a stampede a week after its opening, over a rumour that the bridge was collapsing.

Since its opening, Brooklyn Bridge has become an iconic part of the New York skyline. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964.

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