The historic Brooklyn Bridge turns 134 years old today and continues to spark our lives. In honor of its 134th birthday, below are 5 fast facts about the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
Historic Brooklyn Bridge turns 134 years old.
BIT OF BROOKLYN BRIDGE HISTORY
Erected in 1883, the mighty bridge of granite towers and steel cables suspends over the East River connecting the two boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Back in 1883, Manhattan Island and Brooklyn were two independent cities forever linked by the addition of the bridge. By 1889, the city of Brooklyn officially merged with the island of Manhattan along with Staten Island and a few more to become Greater New York.
5 FAST FACTS ABOUT ICONIC BROOKLYN BRIDGE
– The legendary structure was dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
– One year after the Brooklyn Bridge opened, renowned showman entertainer P.T. Barnum took 125 elephants across the structure to prove it was safe.
– It took 14 years, 600 workers and 15 million dollars to build the immense structure back in the 1880s. To build a suspension bridge of this stature today would cost an estimated 325 million dollars.
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Artist Andy Warhol is one artist inspired by the Brooklyn Bridge.
– The Brooklyn Bridge still serves as the inspiration to countless artists from multiple genres including art, literature, music, theatre, film, television and photography (to name a few). Many famous artists incorporated the renowned bridge into their works including Andy Warhol and Georga O’Keefe; playwright Arthur Miller; photographer Walker Evans; musician Wyclef Jean and poet Jack Keroac.
– The Bridge continues to serve as a safe passage, scenic route and top destination for millions of commuters and tourists – cars, cyclists, pedestrians, trains and, back in the day, horse drawn carriages.
Here’s to the 134th birthday of the enamouring Brooklyn Bridge. — Abbe is #SOSPARKED @sosparkednews @asparks01
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