Secrets of the Brooklyn Bridge: wine cellars, bomb shelter and a pack of circus elephants

Contemporaries called the Brooklyn Bridge the eighth wonder of the world, and for good reason: this bridge was a real breakthrough in construction, its construction cost a cosmic amount - $ 15 million, it became a symbol of America even before the appearance of the Statue of Liberty. The secrets of the building are reported in the TV channel's report "Present".

This legendary symbol of New York looks spectacular from the side of Manhattan. But the truly impressive view of it is from the East River, from Brooklyn.

The eighth wonder of the world

Contemporaries called the Brooklyn Bridge the eighth wonder of the world.

The idea belongs to John Roebling. His project was a breakthrough for the 1869th century. Suspension bridges of this size have never been built in the world before. It was founded in XNUMX.

The dimensions of the bridge are impressive: 1825 meters, almost two kilometers long and 26 meters wide.
The construction of the bridge cost an astronomical sum for that time - $ 15 million.

Official name

First, the bridge connected the two banks of the East River. It was called New York and Brooklyn Bridge - then they were two different cities.

Later, the metropolis expanded, and the two cities merged.

For a time the bridge was called the East River Bridge. Officially, it began to be called Brooklyn at the beginning of the XNUMXth century.

Design

The design of this bridge was originally conceived in the ancient Egyptian style. Architects even began work on the sketch. But in the end, preference was given to the neo-Gothic. The arches in the supports resemble the vaults of cathedrals.

When the bridge was completed in 1883, its appearance shocked the crowd as much as the Empire State Building did half a century later. The fact is that the bridge looked especially impressive against the backdrop of the city at that time: most of the houses in New York then were no higher than four stories. The 85-meter pillars of the bridge were compared to towers. The New World has never seen anything like it.

Bridge earlier today

On the opening day, the Brooklyn Bridge was crossed by 150 thousand people, 1800 carriages and carriages.

Today, an average of 125 thousand cars pass across the bridge every day, about 10 thousand people pass. The walk takes approximately 20 minutes.

“Pedestrians on the bridge today are usually tourists. New Yorkers usually appear on bicycles on it - about 4 thousand people a day, ”the channel's report says.

In the XNUMXth century, trains used to move where the highway now passes. The trip usually took several minutes.

Steel cables

Steel cables are a trademark of the Brooklyn Bridge design. There are a total of 24 km of them here. Each rope is woven from 19 steel ropes. This suspended structure is considered heavy-duty and, by today's standards, is capable of supporting several times its own weight.

Flock of elephants

However, New Yorkers did not immediately believe in the strength of the bridge. To convince them of the safety of the structure, city officials once chased 21 elephants from a touring circus over it. The spectacle was watched by tens of thousands of people, and the next day newspapers were full of illustrations.

Wine cellars

Another interesting fact: there are warehouses in the lifting ramps. Once upon a time, the city authorities rented them out as wine cellars. It cost $ 5 a year from Manhattan and $ 500 from Brooklyn. This continued until Prohibition.

On the subject: The story of the legendary Brooklyn Bridge. A PHOTO

In the cellars, as it turned out, there were very suitable conditions for the storage of fine wines. Today, in the former wine cellars, city services store all kinds of equipment.

Bomb shelter

In 2006, construction workers uncovered a Cold War bomb shelter while repairing a bridge. Somehow everyone forgot about him. Previously, there were kept blankets, medicines and 350 thousand cans of biscuits.

Bridge changes height

The Brooklyn Bridge changes its height several times a year - depending on the season. The fact is that its cables shrink at low temperatures, so the bridge rises in winter by about 7,5 centimeters.

Protective grilles

Today you can observe round protective grilles on the bridge, which were not there at first. They were installed later for security reasons - so that no one could climb to the top of the support towers.

Viewing platforms

Observation platforms at the supports are decorated with metal plates, according to which the stages of the construction of the bridge can be traced by years. By studying the notes on the plates, tourists can save on excursions.

Trading on the bridge

For the convenience of tourists, there are trays with food and water on the bridge. Souvenirs for every taste are also sold here - from decorative magnets to key rings and photos.

Security

Safety at the Brooklyn Bridge comes first.

“Police officers are on duty on the bridge in a mini-car so as not to interfere with the movement of people and cyclists,” the report says.

Symbol of america

For many contemporaries, this grandiose structure marked the beginning of a new era of technological progress. And the Brooklyn Bridge itself is a symbol of America even before the appearance of the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. And he retains this status to this day.