Brooklyn Bridge, New York City

On May 24, 1883, after 14 years and 27 construction-related deaths, the Brooklyn Bridge opened, connecting the boroughs of New York and Brooklyn over the East River for the first time in history. Thousands of Brooklyn and Manhattan Island residents witnessed the dedication ceremony, presided over by President Chester A. Arthur and New York Gov. Grover Cleveland. Designed by the late John A. Roebling, the Brooklyn Bridge was the largest suspension bridge ever built at that time, and was dubbed the 8th wonder of the world.
On May 25, 1983, I was there, only a day late but unfortunately several dollars short, for the centennial celebration of its opening. Although I missed most of the fanfare, I may have had a better visit. I got an individually personalized tour of the bridge, including actually going down into one of the caissons. (I had always assumed that they were solid since they have such a daunting task to perform.) From there I walked to the Brooklyn Borough Branch of the New York Public Library where I saw another display on the construction of the bridge and an art exhibit which had absolutely nothing to do with Robert Mapplethorpe.
Late that afternoon, I had one of the best seafood dinners that I have ever had, followed by an extremely long walk back up town which would have been long enough even if I had not gotten lost and ended up deep in the Bowery. I had absolutely no trouble sleeping that night.
Being a day late for the celebration was not by design but I am rather pleased that it worked out that way.

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In 1855, John Roebling, famous bridge designer at that time, proposed a suspension bridge over the East River Work began on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1869. His son Washington, also an accomplished engineer, took over direction of the construction after his father’s death. In 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge, then known as the "Great East River Bridge," opened to the public. Twenty-seven men overall died during construction. The Brooklyn Bridge, now a National Historic Landmark, is Brooklyn's most beloved tourist attraction as well as the connection between Brooklyn and Manhattan for close to 140,000 vehicles daily but is not the only bridge that coonects brooklyn to manhattan. The Brooklyn Bridge's main span over the East River is 1,595 feet (486 meters) and takes you from Manhattan's civic center into tree-lined Brooklyn Heights.

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It is one of the most famous bridges in the world. You don't have to know much about it to love it. It is very beautiful. We did a bicycle tour the last time we were there from Times Square to Brooklyn Bridge. It was a lovely way to see it. Of course the view from the bridge is spectacular so those of you who are fond of taking pictures, this is your chance!

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In the splendour of New York's architecture, this old bridge, may pass unnoticed, unless you are adverted or have the chance to read about it. Now a common and discreet bridge, it was, at the time of its construction an astonishing challenge.

But don't ask me to write what other have done better; just follow the link.

If you've got some time and the weather is nice, consider taking a stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge. It is one of the most iconic bridges in the country and offers beautiful views. If you are in downtown Manhattan, the bridge is next to City Hall and the courthouses, just north of the financial district. Once you get to Brooklyn, if you're hungry grab a slice of pizza at Grimaldi's (there may be a line to wait, but it is true, authentic NY pizza!) or take a stroll to Brooklyn Heights (a truly stunning area filled with well kept brownstones) and walk along the promenade for more great views of Manhattan. There are some great shops and restaurants in Brooklyn, so don't overlook this borough on your visit!

you can run, walk or ride bicicle in border or the brigde it take depends you between 15 minutos and hours, you see the river, the city teh people crossing the bridge it very nice experience and good exersise.

you can run, walk or ride bicicle in border or the brigde it take depends you between 15 minutos and hours, you see the river, the city teh people crossing the bridge it very nice experience and good exersise.

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With only a couple days in NYC, it would have been silly to even thick we could see even a representative sampling of what this amazing place has to offer. So, it made sense to try and see some things we had not seen and it being Christmas time, certainly see the parts of The City that shine most during that special time of year. It was a ramshackle visit and there was no rhyme nor reason on how we picked places or in what order we visited them. Oh, I guess there was one overriding factor and that was price. We didn't have a lot of money and even though my friend had got us a free room in Jersey City just across the Hudson, we decided most of our money would be spent on food and drink. So, we were looking for cheap thrills and anything free now somehow took on a new luster. We weren't going to any Broadway shows but of course, we would have to do some of the touristy things I had managed to escape on my first twenty odd visits to the city that never sleeps.

We arrived much later than we might have liked despite flying into the area the night prior at some ungodly hour thanks to a huge winter storm wrecking havoc on the East Coast. With getting to bed late and staying in my friend's house in NJ the first night, it was not going to be the dawn photo shoot I had been dreaming of. No, we sauntered into town after checking into our free Jersey City room well after lunchtime. We had somehow managed to not have lunch even though the original plan was to hit a deli for lunch before doing any sight-seeing. No, with this late of an arrival and it being possibly the only nice day of our trip, I forced our little group of two very different couples towards the Brooklyn Bridge, passing off anyone's hunger pains as requisite payment for such a late arrival. Once in sight, it was like a magnet compelling me. The light was perfect and the iconic landmark forged in my brain after watching Woody Allen's Manhattan a few too many times never looked so impressive. Sure, there are bigger bridges but in its day, and that day was way back in 1883, it was the biggest and surely most impressive with its first ever steel wire construction. But that's just nuts and bolts. Outside of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, I don't think there is another nearly as atmospheric and if you do it in Black & White, it wins hands down.

Walking across The Brooklyn Bridge is something I've always wanted to do and never got around to but there is something a bit anti-climatic about actually getting onto this thing. And believe me, it's no easy task when you start out by trying to get pictures of it from the pier and right at its base. This puts you what seems miles from the entrance of the bridge, especially when it's a clear cold winter's day. Still, some things have to be done and this was one time I was not to be thwarted. Once on the bridge, you are stuck with the fact that you can no longer see is beautiful breadth though you are rewarded with not only an up close look at its intricate construction but also unparalleled views of the New York City skyline. This is one gorgeous walk as the sun is going down and that is exactly what we were quite unwittingly doing. I would have likely planned this for early morning and this is one time when the best plan is not your first choice. So, as it turned out our late arrival turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I got my best photos that afternoon, not only of Brooklyn Bridge but of the NYC skyline and with the aid of a strong zoom, The Empire State Building too! That this amazing walk would lead us to one of the best pizzas I've ever eaten was only icing on the cake but believe me, after this long of a walk, it was a well-deserved reward at that!