Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first longspan bridge to carry motor traffic, and it quickly became the model for the great suspension bridges of the following century.
Opened
in
1883
,
the
Brooklyn
Bridge
was
the
first
longspan
bridge
to
carry
motor
traffic
,
and
it
quickly
became
the
model
for
the
great
suspension
bridges
of
the
following
century
.
Spanning New York's East River, it provided the first traffic artery between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn.
Spanning
New
York
's
East
River
,
it
provided
the
first
traffic
artery
between
Manhattan
Island
and
Brooklyn
.
Before that, the only transportation was by ferries, which were slow and could be dangerous in winter.
Before
that
,
the
only
transportation
was
by
ferries
,
which
were
slow
and
could
be
dangerous
in
winter
.
The construction of a bridge over the EastRiver had been discussed since the early 19th century, but the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 deflected all consideration of the project.
The
construction
of
a
bridge
over
the
EastRiver
had
been
discussed
since
the
early
19th
century
,
but
the
outbreak
of
the
Civil
War
in
1861
deflected
all
consideration
of
the
project
.
When the war ended in 1865, the bridge became an important issue once more.
When
the
war
ended
in
1865
,
the
bridge
became
an
important
issue
once
more
.
In 1867, the New York State passed an act setting up the New York Bridge Company for the purpose of constructing a bridge between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn.
In
1867
,
the
New
York
State
passed
an
act
setting
up
the
New
York
Bridge
Company
for
the
purpose
of
constructing
a
bridge
between
Manhattan
Island
and
Brooklyn
.
John Augustus Roebling was chosen to design the bridge.
John
Augustus
Roebling
was
chosen
to
design
the
bridge
.
Born in Germany in 1806, he held aggressive views as a student and was listed by the German police as a dangerous figure.
Born
in
Germany
in
1806
,
he
held
aggressive
views
as
a
student
and
was
listed
by
the
German
police
as
a
dangerous
figure
.
He emigrated to America in 1830 to escape political discrimination.
He
emigrated
to
America
in
1830
to
escape
political
discrimination
.
Roebling proposed a bridge with a span of 1,500 feet (465 m), with two towers in the East River serving as the main piers.
Roebling
proposed
a
bridge
with
a
span
of
1,500
feet
(
465
m
)
,
with
two
towers
in
the
East
River
serving
as
the
main
piers
.
The bridge that was actually built is longer--1,597 feet (486 m), the longest suspension bridge at that time.
The
bridge
that
was
actually
built
is
longer
--
1,597
feet
(
486
m
)
,
the
longest
suspension
bridge
at
that
time
.
Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first longspan bridge to carry motor traffic, and it quickly became the model for the great suspension bridges of the following century. Spanning New York's East River, it provided the first traffic artery between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn. Before that, the only transportation was by ferries, which were slow and could be dangerous in winter.  The construction of a bridge over the EastRiver had been discussed since the early 19th century, but the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 deflected all consideration of the project. When the war ended in 1865, the bridge became an important issue once more. In 1867, the New York State passed an act setting up the New York Bridge Company for the purpose of constructing a bridge between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn.  John Augustus Roebling was chosen to design the bridge. Born in Germany in 1806, he held aggressive views as a student and was listed by the German police as a dangerous figure. He emigrated to America in 1830 to escape political discrimination.  Roebling proposed a bridge with a span of 1,500 feet (465 m), with two towers in the East River serving as the main piers. The bridge that was actually built is longer--1,597 feet (486 m), the longest suspension bridge at that time.