Cross the bridge Brooklyn Bridge is an activity not to be missed during any stay in New York! Feeling of freedom guaranteed!
Inaugurated in 1883, it is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States and New Yorkers’ favorite bridge. It offers a magnificent view of the skyline and is one of the most photographed bridges in the world!
Schedule : 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Duration of visit: allow about 45 min to cross the bridge.
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible
History of the Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge : la conception
The idea of building a bridge connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan emerged in the 1860s, when both neighborhoods experienced rapid population growth. Moreover, at the time Brooklyn and Manhattan were 2 very distinct cities. We couldn’t get from one to the other than by taking the ferry ! He is the German engineer John A. Roebling who proposed the idea of a bridge linking Brooklyn and Manhattan, but he died before construction began, injured by a ferry on the construction site… His son, Washington Roeblingthen took over and supervised the construction of the bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge in a few figures
The Brooklyn Bridge is inaugurated on May 24, 1883after more than 14 years of construction. It spans a total length approx. 1.8 km. At the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. The work cost the trifle of 15 million dollars !
600 workers and some 6,740 tonnes of material were needed for construction. The pillars that support the bridge are made of solid granite and measure approximately 84 meters high. It is composed of 2 floors : the lower part is reserved for vehicles which can travel on 6 lanes. The upper part is reserved for pedestrians and bicycles. The bridge is supported by 4 main cables, each consisting of more than 5,000 steel wires. Each cable has a diameter of almost 42 cm. The 2 massive granite towers each measure more than 80 meters high. More than 100,000 vehicles, 4,000 pedestrians and near 2,600 bicycles go through it every day!
Info : The bridge is first named New York and Brooklyn BridgeThen East River Bridge and finally officially renamed Brooklyn Bridge in 1915.
Brooklyn Bridge: The Technological Challenges
The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge was a major technological challenge for the time! One of the main challenges was to build solid foundations at the bottom of the East River. To do this, the workers had to work in sealed boxes filled with compressed air, several tens of meters deep.
Due to ignorance of decompression stops, some workers caught caisson disease, which paralyzed their lower limbs. Besides, Washington Roebling was himself affected by this disease, which forced him to watch the construction site from the window of his apartment.
Rare fact for the time, it is Emily Warren Roebling, his wife, who then coordinated the work. She becomes the chief engineer and takes charge of all the activities that Washington cannot handle, and this during the last 11 years of construction. She will be the first person to cross the bridge on its inauguration day and will be acclaimed for her dedication.
The Brooklyn Bridge on its opening day.
Brooklyn Bridge: the cursed bridge?
The architect of the bridge is one of the first people to die during construction. He injured his foot only 3 days after the start of construction, refused amputation and died a few weeks later of tetanus. His son takes over, but suffers from caisson disease, he becomes bedridden. 100 workers remain disabled following decompression accidents and 27 people died on the bridge site. It must be said that accidents were not uncommon due to the lack of safety equipment… On Memorial Day in 1883, a woman stuck her heel in a plank on the pedestrian walkway, screamed and caused panic! The people around her, thinking that the bridge is about to collapse, cause a human tide resulting in the death of 12 people.
All these facts have fueled the myths and legends of the curse of the brooklyn bridge…
Info : On May 17, 1884, faced with the doubts of the Americans about the solidity of the structure, 21 elephants and 17 camels were brought to cross the bridge and thus reassure everyone!
© World History Archive/Alamy
Cross the Brooklyn Bridge
Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on foot is an essential experience during any stay in New York! Thus, you will have plenty of time to admire the beauty of the monument and enjoy its breathtaking view of the skyline!
So which way to cross the Brooklyn Bridge?
2 options are possible:
in the Manhattan-Brooklyn direction in the Brooklyn-Manhattan direction
My advice is to start from Brooklyn and drive through it heading towards Manhattan. The view is really more pleasant and you will undoubtedly make great photos 😉 . The ideal is to take advantage of the neighborhoods of Dumbo and of Brooklyn Heights, then finish by crossing the bridge. You will be able to admire the superb view of the skyline but also theEmpire State Buildingthe Manhattan Bridge, the Statue of Liberty or even the One World Trade Center.
By the way, if you want to know more about the Brooklyn Bridge, why not take our great guided tour?!
Guided tour of Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo and Brooklyn Bridge
How long to cross the Brooklyn Bridge?
Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on foot will take you between 30 and 45 minutes. Of course, this varies according to your pace of walking, the weather, the crowds on the bridge that day…but also the photo name which you will take! 😉
When is the best time to cross the Brooklyn Bridge?
The bridge is accessible 24 hours a day, and of course it is magnificent day and night 😉! However, if you want his crossing to remain an unforgettable memory, I advise you to go there. at sunrise and/or sunset.
At the Sunrise : you will be almost alone in the world! Take advantage of the shift in the first few days to get there early, between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m.
At sunset : it will be a little more crowded, that’s for sure, but the experience will still be magical! You will be able to observe the changing colors of the sky, the reflections on the buildings, and in addition, the atmosphere is so romantic 😉 !
How to get to the Brooklyn Bridge?
From Manhattan: access to the bridge is via the Brooklyn Bridge — City Hall Subway stations: lines 4, 5 and 6 and Chambers St: lines J and Z.
From there, the bridge is in front, and you will see that the entrance is well indicated.
From Brooklyn: High St – Brooklyn Bridge subway stop: Lines A and C.
The Brooklyn side entrance is at the intersection of Tillary St. and Adams St.
Conclusion
I hope that you will have found in this article all the useful information and advice to enjoy this unmissable monument that is the Brooklyn Bridge 😉 .
2023-07-04 14:02:37
#Brooklyn #Bridge #Yorks #historic #landmark
