A hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge in New York City, The Brooklyn Bridge connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn over the East River. The Brooklyn Bridge, which opened on May 24, 1883, was the first permanent bridge on the East River. With a primary span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m) and a deck 127 feet (38.7 m) above mean high water, it was also the world’s longest suspension bridge. The bridge was formerly known as the New York and Brooklyn Bridge or the East River Bridge. Still, in 1915 it was formally renamed the Brooklyn Bridge.

 

The Brooklyn Bridge is the most southern of the four toll-free vehicle bridges that link Manhattan Island and Long Island, with the Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, and Queensboro Bridge to the north. Only passenger cars, pedestrians, and cyclists are allowed. Since its inauguration, the Brooklyn Bridge has been a prominent tourist destination and a symbol of New York City. Various stunts and performances and countless crimes and assaults have taken place on the bridge throughout the years. According to the National Park Service, the Brooklyn Bridge is a National Historic Landmark, a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, and a New York City landmark.

The Brooklyn Bridge, an early steel-wire suspension bridge, employs a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge design that includes vertical and diagonal suspender cables. The neo-Gothic stone towers have pointed arches. The bridge’s original color scheme was “Brooklyn Bridge Tan” and “Silver,” according to the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT). However, a writer for The New York Post claims it was total “Rawlins Red” at the time. Continue reading about New York

Since January 29, 1964, the Brooklyn Bridge has been designated a National Historic Landmark. The Brooklyn Bridge was recognized by the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. Since August 24, 1967, the bridge has been classified as a New York City landmark. In 1972, it was designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. It was also included in UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage Site list in 2017.

The Manhattan anchorage, built on the site of the Samuel Osgood House at 1 Cherry Street in Manhattan, is marked with a bronze plaque. It was erected in 1770 and served as the first U.S. presidential home, named for Samuel Osgood, a Massachusetts politician, and lawyer. In 1856, the Osgood House burned down.

A city-placed plaque on the Manhattan side of the pedestrian promenade marks the bridge’s designation as a municipal landmark, which was put in 1975.

The renowned Brooklyn Bridge connects lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights. The Brooklyn Bridge, known for its stone arches, has six lanes of traffic (no trucks) and a shared pedestrian and cycling route. In 2018, around 116,000 cars, 30,000 pedestrians, and 3,000 bikes crossed the Brooklyn Bridge daily.

Visit the City of New York’s Official Website to learn more about the Brooklyn Bridge. More about New York here