The Brooklyn Bridge

Postcards from the Collection of Jim Reis. Permission for use granted by Gary Feuerstein at http://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/bbridge/bbridge.html

As New York City and Brooklyn grew during the mid-1800's, a vision of a huge bridge connecting the two cities began to take shape.  For over 200 years, from the earliest days of the Dutch settlers in the 1640's, ferries had taken passengers back and forth between Brooklyn and the island of Manhattan.  In the earliest years, the ferry had been a rowboat.  In 1814,  the first steam-powered ferry was providing this service.  But by 1860, the rapidly growing population was looking for a new way to cross the East River. 

The bridge would need to be over a mile long, making it the longest bridge in the world!  It would also need to be high enough to allow ships to sail under it.  Careful designing and planning for the bridge would take years.  John Augustus Roebling, a Prussian immigrant, was appointed Chief Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge project, in May of 1867.

Roebling's grand design was for an elegant suspension bridge, with soaring steel cables attached to high stone towers that would reach over 217 feet above the water.  He described it as his "great work of art."  Sadly, in an accident on July 22, 1869, Roebling's foot was crushed.  Two weeks later he died of an infection, never even  seeing construction started on what would become one of America's best-loved structures.

Workers scaling one of the cables on the Brooklyn Bridge,
Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York, 1881

Construction on the "Great East River Bridge" was started in January of 1870.  It would be many long and difficult years, however, before its completion.  Many  fatal accidents took place during the construction of the bridge.  The final cost of the bridge was over $15,000,000.

On May 24, 1883, thirteen years after it was begun, the Great East River Bridge was dedicated as the "Brooklyn Bridge."   A holiday was declared.  Schools and businesses were closed.  150,300 people celebrated by crossing the bridge on opening day.  Ceremonies concluded with fireworks lighting the night sky.  The 120th birthday celebration of the Brooklyn Bridge took place recently.  It is still admired for its beauty and is truly Roebling's "great work of art."

Brooklyn Bridge about 1920

Postcards from the Collection of Jim Reis. Permission for use granted by Gary Feuerstein at http://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/bbridge/bbridge.html