On January 3, 1870 construction began on the 1,600-foot-long Brooklyn Bridge, spanning the East River and connecting the New York boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. An engineering marvel, the bridge was designed by legendary architect John Augustus Roebling. When Roebling died just weeks before construction got underway, his son Washington—a decorated soldier who had fought for the Union during the American Civil War—assumed control of the project. Later that year, Washington himself would be incapacitated after developing decompression sickness, also known as the “bends.” His wife Emily oversaw the day-to-day construction of the bridge until its completion in 1883.
Find out more about the construction the Brooklyn Bridge, which was once nicknamed the “eighth wonder of the world,” below.
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Celebrating 100 Years
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Fireworks mark the Brooklyn Bridge's Centennial in 1983. (Getty Images)
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Designing the Bridge
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Portion of John Roebling's original drawings for the Brooklyn Bridge.
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Construction Underway
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It took more than 13 years to complete the bridge, at a cost of $15 million (more than $320 million in today's dollars).
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Washington and Emily Roebling
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Washington Roebling oversaw construction of the bridge after the death of his father John. Washington's wife, Emily, would see the project to its completion when Washington developed compression sickness, also known as "the bends."
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On the Job
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More than 600 men worked on the bridge—and 27 of them died during its construction.
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Opening Day Ceremony
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New Yorkers flocked to the May 24, 1883 official opening of the Brooklyn Bridge.
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Invitation to Bridge's Opening
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Engraved invitations (created by Tiffany & Co.) invited New York luminaries to the May 24, 1883 opening of the Brooklyn Bridge.
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Elephants on the Move
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Shortly after the bridge's opening, impresario P.T. Barnum led 21 elephants across its span to prove it was safe. His famed elephant Jumbo led the procession.
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Linking the borough of Brooklyn with Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge stands as a marvel of engineering.
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