Brooklyn Bridge: New York’s iconic bridge

What You Need to Know About Brooklyn Bridge

• Brooklyn Bridge is New York‘s most iconic bridge. Located at the southern tip of the city, it spans the East River and connects Manhattan and Brooklyn, two of New York’s main neighborhoods.
• Before the bridge was built in 1883, ferries connected Brooklyn to Manhattan. German-born engineer John August Roebling proposed building a bridge across the East River to make travel between the two neighborhoods easier.
• The project was approved, but in 1869, Roebling’s foot was crushed by a ferry and he died three weeks later, before construction even began. His son Washington Roebling took over the project. However, Washington suffered a decompression accident that left him partially paralyzed. The work didn’t stop—Washington’s wife supervised the construction site instead.
• When Brooklyn Bridge opened to the public in 1883, it held the title of the world’s longest suspension bridge. While it no longer holds that record, it retains its original architecture and powerful symbolic presence.

What to See on Brooklyn Bridge

• Traffic flows on two levels. One level is for vehicles, with a dedicated bike lane. The other level, slightly elevated, is for pedestrians. The pedestrian walkway offers magical views of Manhattan. You’ll see One World Trade Center, the Statue of Liberty, and the Empire State Building in the distance.
• The bridge stretches 1.8 km (1.1 mi) long, making it a pleasant walk and a perfect introduction to New York.
• With its neo-Gothic design, the two double arches rise 84 m (275 ft) high. They symbolize the gateway to Manhattan and Brooklyn.
• The bridge offers superb views of New York Harbor. Watch sailboats, cruise ships, and cargo vessels pass by. You’ll also see the Manhattan Bridge running just across the way.
• On the bridge’s eastern pier, you’ll find the plaque commemorating the bridge’s opening. At the bottom, you’ll see the names of the two engineers who designed it: John August Roebling and his son Washington Roebling.
• Since October 2016, New York City has been removing love locks that visitors from around the world attached to Brooklyn Bridge. Locks are removed regularly. If you’re caught placing a lock, the fine is $100.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Brooklyn Bridge a must-see in New York?

Brooklyn Bridge gives you sweeping views of nearly all of New York, with a unique perspective on New York Harbor. It's an excellent introduction to the city, with major landmarks in sight. The bridge also features distinctive architecture, with two arches connected by a web of cables.

How long does it take to cross Brooklyn Bridge?

Plan about 30 minutes to walk from the Brooklyn entrance to the Manhattan entrance. This doesn't include stops along the way or time for photos. Allow an hour for the full crossing.

Can you cross Brooklyn Bridge at night?

Yes. The pedestrian walkway is open 24/7. You'll always find people on the bridge, no matter the time.

The History of Brooklyn Bridge

Construction took 14 years, from 1869 to 1883

• John A. Roebling, the architect of Brooklyn Bridge, was encouraged to emigrate to the United States by one of his professors, the renowned philosopher Hegel himself. He left Germany in 1841 with a few companions to establish an agricultural community in Pennsylvania. But the German polytechnic graduate soon devoted himself to locks, dikes, and aqueducts before building the continent’s first major suspension bridges. In 1866, he designed the Cincinnati Bridge over the Ohio River, the true prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge.
• The idea for Brooklyn Bridge came to him one winter when he was stuck on a ferry trying to cross the ice-choked East River. In that season, reaching the other side could take hours. As river traffic intensified, the engineer decided it was time to act. He published his proposal in the New York Tribune, and after ten years of deliberation, public opinion and authorities finally accepted the idea of a bridge connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn. At that time, Brooklyn was an independent city and the third-largest city in the United States.
• Work progressed slowly and would last 14 years. On June 28, 1869, while Roebling was determining the location of a pylon for the future bridge, his foot was accidentally crushed by a ferry’s gangway. He succumbed to tetanus, which didn’t even give him time to see the start of construction on what was to be the masterpiece of his life. Ironically, he became its first victim. His son Washington took over the project.

Brooklyn Bridge: Masterpiece and Serial Killer

• To build the two giant piers—sublime Gothic gateways to Brooklyn and Manhattan—workers had to go to the river bottom, dig foundations with pickaxes and explosives using pneumatic caisson technology. Many surfaced too quickly, blood streaming from their eyes and ears. Decompression sickness, poorly understood by divers at the time, claimed many victims, including Washington Roebling, who was left paralyzed.
• Confined to a wheelchair at home, watching progress through binoculars, his wife Emily Warren Roebling heroically took charge. She courageously faced the male-dominated construction site to enforce her husband’s directives.
• Thanks to Emily, Washington completed his father’s work. On May 23, 1883, in the presence of President Chester Arthur, 14 tons of fireworks lit up the New York sky for a grand opening ceremony. The bridge, whose 83 m (272 ft) piers still towered over the city’s tallest buildings, was illuminated by Edison’s new invention: the electric light bulb. On the first day alone, 150,000 people crossed it.
• A week later, on May 30, 1883, 20,000 people were on the bridge when a woman fell and rumors that the bridge would collapse sparked a panic that killed 12 more people. A curse seemed to hang over the bridge. To overcome the superstition, a bold idea was launched. On May 17, 1884, the famous Phineas T. Barnum paraded his circus elephants across the bridge in a spectacular procession that not only created a sensation but also convinced New Yorkers of the strength of this granite and steel giant. The gamble paid off.

Philippe Latger for CNEWYORK

Brooklyn Bridge in Video

Brooklyn Bridge in Photos

Reviews of Brooklyn Bridge

• Liliane Pelissier: “I love Brooklyn Bridge too—it’s part of New York’s history. Walking from Manhattan to Brooklyn is a must. The view on the other side is stunning. It feels like you’re in a Woody Allen film, with that special atmosphere and such beautiful light at sunset. I really want to go back.”
• Mike van Daele: “This bridge gave me chills.”
• Vilmen Martine: “I love walking on both bridges, preferably early in the morning at dawn. It’s very pleasant because there’s hardly anyone around—great for photos!”
• Anne Caporali: “Such a pleasure to stroll here… Watch out for bikes!”
• Renelde Patte: “I’ve taken time to cross Brooklyn Bridge on every visit to New York. I’ve stopped to read the plaques explaining its construction! I was amazed that back then, to build the pier foundations, engineers managed to create a void in the East River and workers did the foundation work in diving suits!!! I suppose the same goes for Manhattan Bridge! Since then I’ve loved bridges and I admire bridge engineers!!! That’s what’s magical about New York: these skyscrapers, these bridges, this architecture, these workers (hence the posters of people on a girder…). Just for that, New York is fascinating!!!”
• Michel B.: “The most magical moment was crossing at night from Brooklyn to Manhattan in the snow, alone with my daughter. The bridge all to ourselves.”
• Bérangère: “We were there at 7 am the morning after we arrived. It was so calm and really pleasant!”
• Caroline J.: “Stunning to see just before sunrise. Very quiet. But lots of people at sunset.”
• Tanja: “Early morning is great to avoid the many tourists and get photos of the bridge to yourself.”

Reviews of Brooklyn Bridge from our Facebook group Destination New York

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