Two summers ago I went to Brooklyn with a group of friends to cross the Brooklyn Bridge for fun. I had never crossed it before. Unfortunately, we got a little distracted and decided to just hang around. Before my friends suggested that we walk the bridge, I was unaware that you could even do this. I thought bridges were strictly reserved for cars. I would have liked to cross the bridge that night. The lights of the city were glowing and the scenery was so beautiful that it left you breathless. So when this assignment came up, I saw it as an opportunity to explore what I planned to two summers ago.
Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges. It was completed in 1883 and connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It was the first structure that directly connected the boroughs at that time. The bridge has a neo-Gothic architectural style. The pointed arches above the passageways show some of these characteristics of the architectural style. Its towers are made up of limestone, granite, and Rosendale cement. It was designated a National Historic landmark in 1964.
It was designed my John Augustus Roebling. During the construction a pulley crushed his foot causing the amputation of is toes. He later suffered a tetanus infection which ultimately led to his death. His son, Washington Roebling, took over the project. He too fell ill with decompression sickness and was unable to supervise the engineers at the site. Washington’s wife, Emily Warren Roebling, stepped in and helped supervise the construction for the next 11 years.
The pedestrian walkway on the Brooklyn Bridge is located above and in the middle of the car lanes. It is a wide walkway that is open for pedestrians and cyclists. The passageway was designed to let pedestrians walk across the bridge. A couple of time in past events this passageway held significant importance. On September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center was attacked, the subways were shut down leaving thousands of people stranded. Many of these people walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to get home.
The journey across the bridge is approximately one mile and lasts around one hour and it is worth every minute. It is frequented by many tourists, cyclists, and New Yorkers as well. Walking across the bridge, there are several vendors selling water and other New York memorabilia. One vendor was selling magnets for 2 dollars. Halfway, there is some information on the construction of the bridge. The story of the workers that worked hard and some lost their lives to build the bridge. Throughout the walk one is able to enjoy the beautiful skyline of New York City.
Many people come to enjoy the scenic walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. It is a nice experience especially when the weather is nice. It is also nice to experience a part of New York City history and culture.
