The Brooklyn Bridge

Greetings from Brooklyn, New York

24x18 Giclee Print

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John Augustus Roebling (born Johann August Röbling, June 12, 1806 in Mühlhausen - July 22, 1869) was a German immigrant, educated at the Royal Polytechnic School of Berlin. Roebling arrived in the United States in 1831.

He is most famous for his wire rope suspension bridge designs, in particular, the design of the Brooklyn Bridge. In total, he designed five major suspension bridges.

Brooklyn Bridge Cables from Pedestria...

16x12 Photograph...

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Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began on January 3, 1870. The Brooklyn Bridge was completed thirteen years later and was opened for use on May 24, 1883.

The Brooklyn Bridge might not have been built had it not been for Emily Warren Roebling. Most history books cite her father-in-law John Roebling and her husband Washington Roebling as the bridge's builders. Early into construction in 1872, however, collapsing bridge timbers crushed John Roebling's legs, leaving him incapacitated. Soon after, an illness paralyzed Washington Roebling. With both men out of commission, Emily Warren Roebling took over.

Under her husband's guidance, Emily had studied higher mathematics, the calculations of catenary curves, the strengths of materials, bridge specifications, and the intricacies of cable construction. She spent the next 11 years supervising the bridge's construction.

At the time the bridge was built, the aerodynamics of bridge building had not been worked out. Bridges were not tested in wind tunnels until the 1950s - well after the collapse of the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Galloping Gertie) in 1940. It is therefore fortunate that the open truss structure supporting the deck is by its nature less subject to aerodynamic problems.

Roebling designed a bridge and truss system that was six times as strong as he thought it needed to be. Because of this, the Brooklyn Bridge is still standing when many of the bridges built around the same time have vanished into history and been replaced.

This is also in spite of the substitution of inferior quality wire in the cabling supplied by the contractor J. Lloyd Haigh - by the time it was discovered, it was too late to replace the cabling that had already been constructed. Roebling determined that the poorer wire would leave the bridge four rather than six times as strong as necessary, so it was eventually allowed to stand, with the addition of 250 cables. Diagonal cables were installed from the towers to the deck, intended to stiffen the bridge. They turned out to be unnecessary, but were kept for their distinctive beauty.
~From Wikipedia~

Manhattan Skyline and Brooklyn Bridge...

40x30 Photograph...

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The Brooklyn Bridge is a landmark that we native New Yorkers tend to take for granted. Many New Yorkers have never taken the time to explore it. I myself never had the chance to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge until I was way into my 20's. But once I finally did it, I wondered why I hadn't done it sooner. With that said, I would like to encourage both tourists and Native New Yorkers to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge as well. It's a totally free activity that will leave you feeling exhilarating.

A stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge is a must-do when you are in New York. The views of the Manhattan skyline from the bridge are just spectacular. In addition, there is a collection of historic plaques and informative signage along the route which provide a historic account of how the bridge was built.

In order to get the best views, I would recommend walking from the Brooklyn side of the bridge to Manhattan. You can access the Brooklyn entrance to the bridge's walkway from a staircase at Prospect Street and Cadman Plaza East or from a ramp at the corner of Johnson and Adams Streets, which is located right next to the Brooklyn Federal Court Building and the High Street station on the A, train. (I included a map on this page to help you navigate)

Both bicycles and pedestrians are free to use the wooden walkway which is elevated over the traffic. The walk across the bridge takes approximately 30 minutes, but it may take longer if you stop to take photos, or to read the historical plaques. In addition, there are benches along the way, just in case you get tired and need to take a break.

~image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-consortium/~

I would rather be the man who bought the Brooklyn Bridge than the man who sold it
~ Will Rogers

Scientists are people who build the Brooklyn Bridge and then buy it.
~ William F. Buckley, Jr.

When Charles first saw our child Mary, he said all the proper things for a new father. He looked upon the poor little red thing and blurted, "She's more beautiful than the Brooklyn Bridge."
~ Helen Hayes

I learned a great deal doing Brooklyn Bridge. I was able to take a giant step into the terrible reality that was then. We saw the cattle cars that took folks away. Just knowing it was real, it would be impossible not to feel.
~Marion Ross

I have made all my films for my children with the exception of my first film because my oldest daughter wasn't born when I was making the film about the Brooklyn Bridge.
~Ken Burns

Under the Brooklyn Bridge

11x14 Fine ...

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