A place travelers can visit Brooklyn Bridge

Reviews: Brooklyn Bridge

General description: Brooklyn Bridge

When built in 1883 the Brooklyn bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world with a main span of 1,595.5 feet as well as being the first steel wire suspension bridge. It was the first bridge to connect the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City.

How the Brooklyn Bridge was built

The Brooklyn bridge did not let itself be built easily. The first architect to work on it was John Roebling, a German immigrant. He designed the bridge but after a work related injury, involving the bridge and a ferry, he did not recover and soon died. Washington Roebling, his 32 year old son took over but was also paralyzed by a decompression sickness. This meant he could not physically be on the site to supervise the work. Fortunately under his guidance his wife had studied higher mathematics and the physics needed to construct a bridge so she could then step in to become the link between her husband and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Jumbo the elephant parades across the Brooklyn Bridge

After 12 people died in a stampedeon the bridge due to people’s fear of its stability in 1883, P. T Barnum led Jumbo and 21 other elephants across the bridge to prove its stability (and to advertise his circus).

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• The Brooklyn Bridge is open to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
  

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