The Brooklyn Bridge embodies the harmonious combination of a cable-stayed and suspended structure using steel wire. Its iconic neo-Gothic stone towers and characteristic pointed arches give it a unique character.
It is a hybrid bridge that spans between Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York and crosses the East River. Opened on May 24, 1883, it was the first permanent structure across the East River. At the time of its opening, it was also the longest suspension bridge in the world, with a main span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m) and a span above the mean flood level of 127 feet (38.7 m).
Originally known as the New York-Brooklyn Bridge or the East River Bridge, it was renamed the Brooklyn Bridge in 1915.
Ideas for building a bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn were first floated in the early 19th century, which subsequently led to John A. Roebling’s concept.
Construction began in 1870 under the direction of the New York Bridge Company associated with Tammany Hall, but due to controversy and innovative design, it took over thirteen years.
Over the years, the Brooklyn Bridge has gone through several changes: until 1950, horse-drawn carts and elevated railroad tracks moved across it. By building additional bridges and tunnels across the East River to relieve growing traffic, the Brooklyn Bridge is the southernmost of four toll-free road bridges linking Manhattan and Long Island.