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Brooklyn Bridge

What is brooklyn bridge?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Type Suspension bridge[3]
Location East River, New York City[3]
Opened May 24, 1883[2]
Main span 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m)[2]
Total length 6,016 feet (1,833.7 m)[2]

The Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York City that spans the East River, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. It opened on May 24, 1883, and was the first bridge to use steel for cable wire, as well as the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time. [2] [3] [4]

Context

The Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York City that spans the East River and connects Manhattan and Brooklyn [3]. It opened on May 24, 1883, and was notable for being the first bridge to use steel wire for cables and, at the time, the longest suspension bridge in the world [2] [4]. Today, it carries cars, pedestrians, and bicycles, and is owned and maintained by the City of New York’s Department of Transportation [1]. Its main span measures 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m), and its total length is 6,016 feet (1,833.7 m) [2]. For comparison, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is another famous suspension bridge, though it opened later and has a longer main span.

Documented claims

  • The Brooklyn Bridge was the first fixed crossing of the East River. [2]
  • It was the first bridge to use steel for cable wire. [3]
  • When opened, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. [4]
  • The bridge carries cars, pedestrians, and bicycles. [1]

Related

Mackinac BridgeEn annan berömd hängbro i USA som läsare kan jämföra med Brooklyn Bridge.Ambassador BridgeEn annan bro som förbinder USA och Kanada, relevant för jämförelse.

Questions and answers

Why is the Brooklyn Bridge famous?

The Brooklyn Bridge is famous for being the first bridge to use steel for cable wire and, when it opened in 1883, the longest suspension bridge in the world [3] [4].

How long does it take to walk the Brooklyn Bridge?

The bridge’s total length is 6,016 feet (1,833.7 m), so a walk across typically takes about 20 to 30 minutes at a steady pace [2].

What are 5 facts about the Brooklyn Bridge?

It is a suspension bridge over the East River [3]. It opened on May 24, 1883 [2]. It was the first fixed crossing of the East River [2]. It was the first to use steel for cable wire [3]. It carries cars, pedestrians, and bicycles [1].

Sources

  1. NYC DOT - Brooklyn Bridge — nyc.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Brooklyn Bridge | History, Construction, New York City ... — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Brooklyn Bridge - ASCE — asce.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. BUILDING BIG: Databank: Brooklyn Bridge — pbs.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Places