Civic Center in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Brooklyn Bridge
Photographed By Larry Gertner, May 31, 2019
1. The Brooklyn Bridge Marker
The Brooklyn Bridge was the greatest engineering feat of its era and remains one of the best-loved bridges in the world. It was the vision of the German immigrant and engineer John A. Roebling and completed by his son Washington, an engineer and Civil War veteran. When the younger Roebling fell ill he was assisted by his wife Emily. The bridge was built primarily by hand over a 15-year period – from 1869 to 1883. As many as 600 people worked on the Bridge at a time and 27 lives were lost during the construction. The average age of the staff of engineers who oversaw the project was 31. When it opened to the public on May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world and the tallest man-made structure on the continent – towering over the New York City skyline
Right panel
“When the perfected bridge shall permanently and uninterruptedly connect the two cities (of New York and Brooklyn), the daily thousands who cross it will consider it a sort of natural and inevitable phenomenon, such as the rising and setting of the sun, and they will unconsciously overlook the preliminary difficulties surmounted before the structure spanned the stream, and will perhaps undervalue the indomitable courage, the absolute faith, the consummate genius which assured the engineer’s
this page online
Thomas Kinsella, Brooklyn Eagle, 1872
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. A significant historical date for this entry is May 24, 1883.
Location. 40° 42.746′ N, 74° 0.285′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Civic Center. Marker can be reached from Brooklyn Bridge Esplanade near Centre Street, in the median. The marker is flat in the pavement. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New York NY 10013, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Horace Greeley (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Pulitzer (within shouting distance of this marker); First Almshouse (within shouting distance of this marker); The Rotunda (within shouting distance of this marker); The Provost Prison (within shouting distance of this marker); Interment Site (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); New York City Hall (about 300 feet away); Municipal Building (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
Photographed By Larry Gertner, May 31, 2019
2. The Brooklyn Bridge Marker
Like many of the laser-etched illustrations on the markers in City Hall Park across the street, this panel had faded into nothingness.
Photographed By Larry Gertner, February 15, 2015
3. The Brooklyn Bridge Marker
Manhattan entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge Esplanade.
Marker is out of sight to the left.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 206 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 29, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
