On May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge officially opened, linking Manhattan and Brooklyn across the East River. At the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world and a remarkable engineering achievement. The bridge eased travel between the two cities and supported the growth of metropolitan New York. Its construction had taken years and cost the lives of several workers, including its designer John A. Roebling, who died before the project was completed. The bridge quickly became an iconic part of the city’s skyline. Today, it remains both a working transportation link and a historic landmark.
