The historic New York City bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn is the Brooklyn Bridge. It spans the East River and opened on May 24, 1883, creating the first fixed crossing between Manhattan and Long Island.
Engineer John A. Roebling originally proposed the suspension bridge, but his son Washington Roebling became chief engineer after Roebling died from an accident. Washington’s wife, Emily Warren Roebling, helped manage communication and project work while her husband suffered from illness. The bridge took roughly 14 years to complete and was a major engineering achievement for its time.
When it opened, the Brooklyn Bridge had the world’s longest suspension-bridge main span, measuring about 1,595 feet. Its distinctive stone towers use a Gothic Revival design, while its cables support a roadway and an elevated pedestrian promenade. It was originally called the New York and Brooklyn Bridge and was officially renamed the Brooklyn Bridge in 1915. The nearby Manhattan Bridge is a separate East River crossing.