Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge, circa 1903, V1973.5.298; Brooklyn photograph and illustration collection, ARC.202; Brooklyn Historical Society.

The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the most iconic Brooklyn landmarks, marked its 133^rd anniversary on May 24. The bridge, the first structure to physically connect Brooklyn and Manhattan, was constructed over 14 years with the labor of more than 600 workers. Connecting the two cities (Brooklyn was a separate city at the time) led to an increase in population and industry. By 1885, the population in Brooklyn was rising, and nearly 20 million passengers crossed the bridge annually using the “bridge train.”  The bridge presaged the eventual consolidation of the five boroughs into a new city, Greater New York City in 1898.  To learn more about Brooklyn Bridge history, check out the Brooklyn Waterfront History website.

The photo of the week depicts the Brooklyn Bridge from the Manhattan side around 1903. This photograph is part of the Brooklyn photograph and illustration collection which contains approximately 7000 items dating from the early to mid-20th century. The collection provides comprehensive visual documentation of the borough of Brooklyn, N.Y., with images of neighborhoods, homes, buildings, the waterfront, and infrastructure. To view more photographs from this collection, check out this gallery.

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. Interested in seeing even more historic Brooklyn images? Visit our Brooklyn Visual Heritage website here. To search BHS’s entire collection of images, archives, maps, and special collections visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Sat, 1:00-5:00 p.m. library@brooklynhistory.org