10 secrets of the Brooklyn Bridge

Фото: Depositphotos

134 years ago, crowds of New Yorkers came to the discovery of what was then called the New York and Brooklyn Bridge.

1800 cars and 150 300 people crossed the bridge, which was then the only land passage between Brooklyn and Manhattan.

One of the most famous bridges in New York holds many secrets and little-known facts. The 10 list of the most interesting of them to the 134 anniversary of the bridge was collected edition 6sqft.

1. The idea of ​​the Brooklyn Bridge is very old.

The idea of ​​a bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn was considered several years before its construction actually began. The first serious proposal to create a bridge was announced in 1800. Carpenter and landscape designer Thomas Paup proposed the creation of a “suspension bridge” across the East River. His idea was taken into development, but the wooden bridge built on its basis lacked strength.

The main problem was that ships and boats were actively going to the East River, and the bridge had to pass over their masts and not to prevent swimming as much as possible.

2. After construction began, the bridge was considered a "symbol of a new era".

When the construction of the bridge began in 1860, planners, engineers, and architects knew that it would be a special bridge, "one of the greatest works of history, symbolizing a new era." It was believed that the bridge would be able to compete with such a project as the Suez Canal and the transcontinental railroad. It was planned as the largest suspension bridge in the world and was considered an example of the greatest engineering work of the continent and era.

3. The towers were crucial to the success of the bridge.

Many of the bridge construction problems that held the project for so many years were solved by creating identical towers 80 meters in height. Architecturally, they were distinguished by double gothic arches and had to resemble the windows of the cathedral and church.

These towers were named the most massive ever built on the entire North American continent and played an important engineering role. They carried the main load and kept the cables and the roadway of the bridge high enough not to interfere with the river transport.

4. The first woman who crossed the bridge controlled its construction.

The bridge's chief designer, John Roebling, was never able to see it completed. During preparations for construction, his leg got stuck in the structure and was crushed. Doctors amputated the toes, but Roebling fell into a coma and died of tetanus. His son Washington Roebling then took over responsibility for building the bridge, but suffered from decompression sickness and handed over the responsibilities to his wife Emily Warren Roebling. Emily took on the challenge and learned the math, catenary calculations, the strengths of materials, and the intricacies of cable construction. She spent the next 11 years helping her husband and overseeing the construction of the bridge - many were impressed by how she handled the task. She was the first person to completely cross the bridge when it was completed.

5. The bridge was built with numerous aisles and compartments in its fixtures, including wine cellars.

New York leased large openings under the canopy of the bridge to finance its construction. Some branches were adapted for storing wine and champagne, and alcohol was kept there in stable temperatures throughout the year.

6. Cold-war bomb shelter is located under the main entrance of the bridge.

In one of the massive stone arches under the main entrance to the bridge there is a nuclear bunker. It contains medicines, paper blankets and 352 thousands of packages of crackers. This shelter was not discovered until 2006, when workers accidentally discovered it. The shelter was equipped during the Cold War between the USA and the USSR.

7. Fatal case made New Yorkers doubt the strength of the bridge

6 days after the opening of the bridge, the woman stumbled and fell down from the wooden stairs on the Manhattan side of the bridge. Her fall caused a panic by a nearby woman, and a crowd came running to the cry. A large number of people crowded the narrow staircase, and a rumor began in the crowd that the bridge would collapse. Everyone ran in panic, which led to a crush and death of at least 12 people.

8. Elephant Parade

When the Brooklyn Bridge was preparing to open, it was proposed to launch a group of elephants through it, but the authorities rejected it. However, after a case with panic and doubts about the reliability of the bridge, it was decided to hold a parade of elephants on it. The bridge crossed the 21 elephant and the 17 camels, their access to the bridge from the ship looked as if they were descending from Noah's ark.

9. People tried to sell Brooklyn Bridge several times.

Production designer George C. Parker was allegedly the man who came up with the idea of ​​“selling” the Brooklyn Bridge to visitors after it was opened. His fraud really worked because, according to rumors, he sold the bridge on 2 times a week for 2 years. The “deals” were reportedly meant for gullible tourists and immigrants. Parker's success prompted other scammers to try their hand at selling the bridge, but none of them was so successful.

10. Bridge is moving

Even today, the Brooklyn Bridge rises by about 7,5 cm in very cold weather. This is the result of the fact that the cables are compressed at low temperatures.

But at the same time the cables withstand a very high load. Each cable consists of 19 individual conductors, and those in turn of 278 individual wires, which allows the bridge to withstand very large loads.

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