Main span: 1,595.5 ft (486.3 m)
Manhattan to Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Bridge has captured the imagination of poets and dreamers from Walt Whitman onward; it is, as Lewis Mumford described it, “perhaps the most completely satisfying structure of any kind that has appeared in America.” It was by far the longest bridge ever built when it opened on May 24, 1883, and instantly became famous as “the eighth wonder of the world.” Its beautiful and classic architectural appeal disguises the fact that it was a revolutionary technical triumph as well; its construction necessitated the invention of numerous techniques, such as a method for spinning wire cable on–site, and many people thought the plans would never work.

John Augustus Roebling, who invented the technique for making wire cable, created the initial plans for the Brooklyn Bridge, but he was fatally injured early in the project and his son, Washington Roebling, continued the work.

After his father's death, Washington Roebling took over supervision of the construction, but he himself soon fell victim to the little–understood effects of high pressure while working in an underwater caisson on the bridge foundation, and was left half-crippled with internal injuries. But even as an invalid he continued to supervise the project, sitting in his room and using a telescope to watch the building progress.

Altogether, including John Roebling, more than twenty people died during the construction of the bridge. A plaque on the bridge honors both the Roeblings, father and son, for the vast sacrifices they made for its construction.

The Gothic arches of the bridge were the tallest man–made structures in North America when they were built. The diagonal support cables that give the bridge its unique spider–web appearance make it tremendously strong and rigid; the bridge is now well into its second century of service and is still going strong. The wooden walkway, suspended above the racing lanes of traffic, is one of New York’s most magical places, providing beautiful views of the city’s skyline.