If you live in the New York Metro area you most likely have seen this beautiful commercial featuring the Brooklyn Bridge. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye89J8hE4vI
Initially, Brooklyn Bridge was known as 'New York and Brooklyn Bridge'. It was given its present name by the city government, in 1915.
In 1964, Brooklyn Bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark.
The construction work on Brooklyn Bridge started on January 3, 1870 and took as many as 13 years to be complete.
Brooklyn Bridge was opened for use on May 24, 1883. On that day, 1,800 vehicles and 150,300 people crossed the bridge.
At the time of its construction, Brooklyn Bridge was the only land passage between Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The main span of Brooklyn Bridge, over the East River, is 1,595 feet 6 inches (486.3 m).
The cost of construction of Brooklyn Bridge came to somewhere around $15.5 million.
Brooklyn Bridge was designed by John Augustus Roebling, a German-born person.
It is said that during the construction of Brooklyn Bridge, as many as 27 people died, including John Roebling.
Since 1980s, Brooklyn Bridge is being floodlit at night, mainly to emphasize its architectural features.
The towers of Brooklyn Bridge are built of limestone, granite and Rosendale cement, while their architectural style is Gothic.
Presently, Brooklyn Bridge has six lanes for motor vehicles and a separate walkway, along the center line, for pedestrians and bicycles.
The height (11 feet) and weight (6,000 lb) of Brooklyn Bridge has made it necessary to put restrictions on its use by commercial vehicles and buses.
Elevated trains and streetcars were allowed on Brooklyn Bridge until 1944 and 1950, respectively. Thereafter, their entry was banned.
On March 24, 1983 Brooklyn Bridge was designated a National Historic Engineering Landmark.
On May 19, 1885, Robert E. Odlum became the first person to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge.
Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most popular as well as the most known landmarks in New York.
This bridge is featured in many films such as "I Am Legend", "Deep Impact", "Godzilla" and "Enchanted".
On May 30, 1883, a rumor that the bridge was collapsing spread through the crowds on it, causing a stampede. At least 12 people were killed in the ensuing panic.
Nearly a year later, famous circus showman P. T. Barnum helped debunk doubts about the bridge's stability when he and "Jumbo" led a parade of 21 elephants across it.
The original toll for crossing the bridge was one penny.
The City seems to be divided between pedestrians and those who ride bikes. http://gothamist.com/2011/09/20/city_gets_into_the_bikes_vs_pedestr.php
Real New Yorkers can ride really smooth and not run into people. It is the transplants who think they are back in (any M state) and they do not watch where they are going and kind of ruin the walking experience for others. The Brooklyn Bridge seems more pedestrian friendly than other bridges in NYC in terms of those on bikes who terrorize pedestrians. read more