Ken Burns “Oh, you walk out here and you are beautiful. You are rich and famous. You are one with the glories of the world about you, Brooklyn Heights and New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty and the towers of Manhattan. You are one with all this beingness, and you are utterly free.” –From "Getting Hitched" by Stephen Beal
Called the "eighth wonder of the world" when it opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the largest suspension bridge of its day. A tribute to American invention and industry, is also celebrated individual creativity and vision. German immigrant John Roebling designed the 3,460-foot-long bridge, which he claimed reflected "the perfect equilibrium of nature." When Roebling died in an accident, his son Washington continued his work.
While the Brooklyn Bridge reflects the optimism and entrepreneurial spirit of the late 19th century, it also entailed individual tenacity and sacrifice. Washington Roebling supervised the project to completion despite fires, accidents, industrial corruption, and flagging popular support.
Although work on the project crippled him, he lived to see the bridge praised for its grace and utility. Pedestrians crossing from Brooklyn to Manhattan felt exhilarated while "climbing the river." The tall span with its Gothic arches would also inspire artists, writers, and poets then and now.
