The Brooklyn Bridge

Spanning the East River and linking Brooklyn to Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge is a stunning achievement in American engineering. Opened on May 24, 1883, the bridge had been under construction for fourteen years. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, over 150,000 people paid one cent to walk the bridge. It was hailed at the time as the eighth wonder of the world. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964, the Brooklyn Bridge is still one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. From its two magnificent 276-foot neo-Gothic granite towers hang four steel cables, the first of their kind and each 3,578.5 inches in length. This ca. 1898 image shows the pedestrian promenade that runs through the arched portals.