The hands that built America

The Brooklyn Bridge opened on this day in 1883 after 13 years construction. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time. Although no proper records were kept, 27 people officially lost their lives during its construction, with a good number of those being Irish. This website documents those lives lost and those who were injured.

If you have ever been to New York you will no doubt have seen the bridge at a distance or maybe made a point of crossing over it. The one and only time I visited New York was 8 years ago to attend a stock trading seminar. I didn’t get a chance to do all the things I wanted to do, but I do remember passing close by the bridge in a taxi and marvelled at how beautiful it is. From the architects that design to the construction workers that labour, my hat goes off to all those people that build things.

New York is a wonderful city to visit and I hope to go back again some day and make sure I have time to see the Brooklyn Bridge at closer range and take a walk across it.

Photo by Tzatziki and used under a Creative Commons License