The Brooklyn Bridge: A Historic Landmark
The Brooklyn Bridge is celebrated among New Yorkers and those beyond as an iconic landmark that literally conjoins and unifies two sides of the city – Brooklyn and Manhattan. Apart from that, the design and construction of this landmark put an end to some of the transportation challenges faced by commuters and entrepreneurs alike. According to Susannah Broyles (2012), the bridge was designed in 1886 by German, John Roebling, who wanted to build a bridge over the East River to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn. The design was approved in 1867 and he was appointed as Chief Engineer of the project. The construction of the bridge began in January of 1870, taking 14 long years until it was completed and officially open to the public on May 24, 1883 (Greenspan 2013).
Challenges Faced During Construction
From the word go, the conceptualising of The Brooklyn Bridge was met with numerous challenges, some political, some health related and physical while others were more to do with engineering difficulties. Roebling, the designer and chief engineer, was met with hostility when he claimed he had designed solid steel cables that would secure the bridge – cables which he had used for some of his bridge designs in Cincinnati and Pennsylvania (Stern & Wilson 2008). While Roebling was “measuring possible locations for the towers of the bridge near the Fulton Ferry, a boat hit his foot and crushed his toes. Within a month, he died of tetanus” (Broyles, par. 4). From this point on, the construction of the bridge resulted in more than a 100 people contracted to work falling ill - including Roebling’s son, Washington, who took over his father’s project after he died - and dying due to falling off the high towers, being crushed by debris or being succumbed by caisson disease, which is caused by working and being contained in caissons – “watertight structures with a series of airlocks to provide dry underwater space for workers to dig the foundation into solid rock” (Broyles, par. 5).
Controversy and Tragedy
During its construction, there were various claims of fraud and wasting of government funds as the bridge was taking longer to be completed. The situation was so dire that at some point there were those lobbying for the destruction of the bridge so that more money would not be wasted. After it was completed and officially open to the public, it was reported that more than 12 people were crushed to death on a narrow stairway while others were seriously injured following a parade of more than 20,000 people who were celebrating Memorial Day (Greenspan 2013). Yet even with all these challenges and difficult times, the bridge has, over the years, come to be a ray of light and beacon of hope for many who behold and walk on and through it.
An Inspiration for Art and Culture
While Roebling designed this bridge as a means to improve and facilitate the dynamics of transportation, of traveling from one side to the other with little to no risk and frustration, it has become more of a tourist attraction of a site many Americans take pride in. Moreover, it has become a source of inspiration for creatives such as poets, photographers, filmmakers, writers – it is even a subject of study in tertiary institutions, as is evident with this assignment. Greenspan (2013) relates this phenomenon so eloquently in his article:
“The Brooklyn Bridge has arguably inspired more art than any other manmade structure in the United States. Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol and dozens of other well-known painters have incorporated it into their works, as have photographers (Walker Evans); documentarians (Ken Burns); playwrights (Arthur Miller); novelists (Henry Miller); newspaper columnists (Jimmy Breslin); urban historians (Lewis Mumford); poets (Jack Kerouac); and musicians (Wyclef Jean). It likewise has had a slew of TV shows and movie cameos, including ‘The Docks of New York,’ ‘It Happened in Brooklyn,’ ‘Moonstruck,’ ‘Godzilla,’ and ‘Spider-Man.’ Meanwhile, advertisers have used the bridge to sell everything from Vaseline to Absolut Vodka, and it is even the symbol of an Italian chewing gum” (par. 9).
Impact on New York's Economy and National Pride
The presence of this magnificent landmark, which was named the eighth wonder of the world, has shaped the lives of New Yorkers beyond the cultural. On the economic side, the Brooklyn Bridge increased Brooklyn’s population from 580,000 to 1 million within 15 years of its use (www.brooklynbridgeaworldwonder.com) – which could be translated into a healthy economic exchange in the flow of money between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Additionally, this exchange came in the form of labor and goods and services, improved transportation safety for all who use it. Needless to say, both Manhattan and Brooklyn, and greater New York by extension, would have failed to become the economic hubs they are known to be today.
A Symbol of American Pride
Being the tourist attraction that it is, the Brooklyn Bridge has become a symbol of national pride for most American citizens.
Works Cited
“Brooklyn Bridge: A World Wonder.” www.brooklynbridgeaworldwonder.com. Accessed 12 April 2018.
Broyles, Susannah. “The curse of the Roeblings? The Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.” MCNY Blog: New York Stories, 11 September 2012. https://blog.mcny.org/2012/09/11/the-curse-of-the-roeblings-the-construction-of-the-brooklyn-bridge/
Greenspan, Jesse. “10 Things You May Not Know About The Brooklyn Bridge.” History, 23 May 2013. http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-brooklyn-bridge/
Stern, John, and Carrie Wilson. “The Brooklyn Bridge: A Study in Greatness.” 24 May 2008. Aesthetic Realism Looks at NYC.
