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Top 10 Sensational Facts about the Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge- Photo by Hannes Richter on

Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York City, spanning the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn. It was opened on May 24th 1883 and became the first fixed crossing of the East River.

At the time of its opening, it was the longest suspension in the world. Originally, it was known as the East River Bridge but in 1915, it was officially renamed the Brooklyn Bridge

1. Brooklyn Bridge was the first bridge to use steel for cable wire

Cables and wires on the Brooklyn Bridge at dusk- Author; Anthony DELANOIX-

Extending throughout the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan in New York City, the Brooklyn Bridge was a brilliant creation of 19th-century engineering.

It was the very first bridge to use steel for cable wire and during its construction, explosives were used inside a pneumatic caisson.

Due to its unique construction, it became an essential landmark of new york city. To date, it remains to be an outstanding architectural accomplishment that is still held in very high regard across the world.

2. Two of its engineers had an unfortunate fate

The brain behind this unique construction was an engineer by the name, of He developed his own method for weaving wire cables which became one of the leading constructional components of his designs.

Unfortunately, he died at the beginning of the Bridge’s construction due to an accident on site. He was injured while taking a few compass readings across the East River and a boat smashed the toes on one of his feet. Three weeks later, he died of tetanus.

His son, took over as chief engineer. He had worked with his father on several bridges and had helped in designing the Brooklyn Bridge.

Unfortunately again, he suffered a crippling attack of decompression sickness, also known as caisson disease.

This is basically a physiological effect of the formation of gas bubbles in the body as a result of a rapid transition from a high-pressure environment to that a lower one. It mostly affects pilots, underwater divers and caisson workers.

3. The chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge directed its construction while confined

Washington Roebling- Source; RPI Library Collection-

After the death of John Augustus Roebling, his son, Washington Roebling took over but became ill. He was thus confined to his apartment in Brooklyn but still continued to run things regardless.

He continued to direct its operations with the help of his wife, . She’s known to have made major contributions to the completion of the bridge after Washington became bedridden.

4. During its construction, at least 20 workers were killed

Brooklyn Bridge while under construction in 1870- Image source; Library of Congress-

While being constructed, a compressed air blast that wrecked a pneumatic caisson slowed the work.

There was also a severe fire that smouldered for weeks in another caisson because a cable had parted from its anchorage on the Manhattan side and crashed into the river. The fraud was perpetrated by a steel wire contractor thus necessitating the replacement of tons of cable.

At least 20 workers ended up being killed while it was being constructed. For some, it was because of fatal accidents and about 100 many more suffered decompression sickness.

5. Brooklyn Bridge was the longest bridge in the world until the

Brooklyn Bridge- Author; KimonBerlin-

Before the completion of the fifth of forth cantilever bridge in Scotland in 1890, the Brooklyn Bridge’s 1,595 foot (486 metres) main span, was the longest in the world.

Its towers are built of limestone, granite and cement and its deck is supported by four cables that carry both automobile and pedestrian traffic.

Its most distinctive feature is the promenade (a public place for walking for pleasure) above the roadway. John Roebling had it put in its construction because as he accurately predicted, “in a crowded commercial city, it will be of incalculable value.”

6. It had quite an opening ceremony

View of the Brooklyn Bridge, and Grand Display of Fireworks on Opening Night on May 24, 1883-

On its completion on May 24th 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge officially opened. For the first time in history, the great cities of New York and Brooklyn had been connected.

Given it was a first and a spectacular achievement, thousands of Brooklyn and Manhattan residents turned out to witness its dedication ceremony.

The ceremony was presided over by President Chester Arthur and the New York governor at the time, Grover Cleaveland.

Emily Roebling, Washington Roebling’s wife, was the first to ride over the bridge with a rooster in her lap. This was a symbol of victory.

Within 24 hours, more than 150,000 people walked across the bridge using a broad promenade above the roadway that John Roebling designed solely to be enjoyed by pedestrians.

7. Brooklyn Bridge was dubbed the “eighth wonder of the world”

Due to its unprecedented length and two stately towers, the Brooklyn bridge ended up being dubbed “the eighth wonder of the world.”

For many years after its completion, the bridge remained the tallest structure in the western hemisphere and the connection it provided between the population centres of Brooklyn and Manhattan changed the course of New York City forever.

In 1898, Brooklyn city formally merged with New York City, Staten Island and a few other farm towns. This ended up forming the greater New York.

8. P.T Barnum led Elephants, camels and dromedaries over the bridge to prove its stability

Art of P.T Barnum-Author; Daderot-

On May 17th 1884, P.T Barnum led 21 elephants, 10 camels and 7 dromedaries over it so as to prove to the populace of the bridge’s herculean strength.

He used it as a PR stunt so as to have the people’s faith in its stability because most people did not trust suspension bridges. This is because it was public knowledge at the time that a large percentage of them ended up collapsing.

9. There was a stampede tragedy just 6 days after its opening.

Six days after the opening of the bridge on May 24th, 1883, with thousands of people on the bridge, one woman tripped a staircase on the bridge and another woman let out a scream, making the crowd push forward and downstairs, creating panic and stampede.

As reported in the newspaper at the time, people were pushed over and within a small moment, the narrow stairway was choked with human beings piled on top of the other, being crushed to death.

Within a few minutes, 12 people were killed, 7 injured very seriously and 28 severely wounded.

As further reported, as police were clearing the bridge, it was covered with articles of clothing and other belongings which were inclusive of 42 umbrellas, 6 canes, 34 bonnets, a skirt and 6 pairs of shoes.

10. The Brooklyn Bridge was built thanks to bribing money

Brooklyn Bridge in 1883- Source; British Library-

According to sworn testimony given by William M. Tweed, the infamously corrupt head of New York city’s Tammany Hall political machine, he facilitated up to $65,000 in bribes to New York’s alderman so as to win their backing of $1.5 million bond issue.

As a result, he became a major holder of bridge stock and even joined a committee charged with managing the project’s finances.

He hoped to skim money from the city’s bridge contracts just as he had done with other public works.

He was however arrested in 1871 before he could actualize his plan and it has been estimated that he and his cronies stole at least $ 45 million from the public during their time in power.

The Brooklyn Bridge- Image by Foundry Co from

Brooklyn Bridge is a one of a kind construction given its history but also something that paved the way to great engineering.