Directions

The Brooklyn Bridge is accessible from multiple subway lines, including the Q train. If you were residing at the hotel at 50 Central Park South, also known as the Ritz Carlton, this would be the quickest route to the Brooklyn Bridge. However, if you travel by car, then the following directions would give you a trip of only 15 minutes for 6.35 miles: Start out going southeast on Central Park S toward Grand Army Plaza. Turn right onto 5th Ave. 5th Ave is just past Grand Army Plaza. The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English is on the corner. If you are on E 59th St and reach Madison Ave you've gone a little too far. Turn left onto E 34th St. E 34th St is just past E 35th St. If you reach W 33rd St you've gone a little too far. Turn right onto Franklin Delano Roosevelt Dr Service Rd W. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Dr Service Rd W is just past 1st Ave. If you reach FDR Dr you've gone a little too far. Merge onto FDR Dr S via the ramp on the left toward Battery Pk/F D R Drive S. Take EXIT 2 toward Brooklyn Br. Merge onto Brooklyn Bridge/Brooklyn Bridge.

The Ritz Carlton, 50 Central Park South

Surrounding Area and Attractions

There are many side attractions to the Brooklyn Bridge in the neighborhoods of DUMBO (Brooklyn) and Two Bridges (Manhattan). The Official Guide of NYC says that "with its spectacular waterfront access, thriving art scene and an architectural grandeur that's at once raw and charming, it's easy to see why DUMBO has become one of Brooklyn's most buzz-worthy neighborhoods." Two Bridges, however, is different, with tenements and a high concentration of building projects. One side attraction to the Brooklyn Bridge is the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory in DUMBO. It makes "house made ice cream in old-timely digs," and people comment that the view and ice cream are both excellent. Other attractions on the Brooklyn side include Jane's Carousel. South Street in Two Bridges has an amazing view of the river and there are many nearby restaurants.

The Brooklyn Bridge isn't the only attraction in the area.

The Brooklyn Bridge Today

The usage of the bridge has hardly changed -- it has always been used for transportation between the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan. Today it allows pedestrians, cyclists, and road vehicles such as cars to pass over. Tourists and New Yorkers still take the classic walk or bike ride across the Brooklyn Bridge. They still come to the two neighborhoods that the bridge spans, DUMBO and Two Bridges, just to see this sight. It's still as wondrous today as it was on opening day.

Architecture & Construction

The Brooklyn Bridge was originally designed by John A. Roebling, but his son Washington had to take over the project after he died of tetanus. Before this bridge was built, the only way to travel across the rough river was by boat. In order for this bridge to be functional, it needed to be 3,460 feet long. This is why the Brooklyn Bridge was the first to have steel cables. Its materials had to be the strong stone, iron, and steel to stand up to over a century of weathering. It took 13 years to build and was the tallest bridge in the world when it opened. A total of thirteen thousand and five hundred people paid one cent to cross it, and that was just on opening day.

Building the Brooklyn Bridge was as difficult as it looked.

Basic Facts

This amazing feat of construction was the tallest bridge in the world for two decades. It's 277 feet tall, and covers 20 acres of land and sea. It was strong enough to hold the weight of twenty one elephants. It was the first bridge ever to use steel cables, while steel is the only material used for cables today. It's over one hundred and twenty five years old, but it still looks amazing. Experiencing this doesn't cost a cent.

This is the Brooklyn Bridge.

The famous landmark stands against the NYC skyline.