Which bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn across the East River and opened in 1883?

The Brooklyn Bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn across the East River and opened in 1883.

Designed by John A. Roebling, the bridge was among the earliest major suspension bridges to use steel wire for its main cables. Roebling died after an accident before construction began, and his son Washington Roebling became chief engineer. Washington later suffered decompression sickness, so Emily Warren Roebling helped oversee the project and communicate with workers and officials.

At its opening, the bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world, with a main span of 486 metres. Its masonry towers, built from limestone, granite and Rosendale cement, became a defining part of New York City’s skyline. The bridge originally carried pedestrians, horse-drawn vehicles and cable cars.

A common mix-up is its name: it was formally called the New York and Brooklyn Bridge until 1915. Today, the bridge carries road traffic and has a raised promenade for pedestrians and cyclists.