May 24, 1883 –
The Brooklyn Bridge (originally the New York and Brooklyn Bridge), one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, stretches 5,989 feet (1825 m) over the East River connecting the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn opened for business today.
On completion, it was the largest suspension bridge in the world and the first steel-wire suspension bridge. Since its opening, it has become an iconic part of the New York Skyline and is still considered one of the Wonders of the Modern World.
The opening of the bridge seems to have co-incided with the story of Peter Minuit’s, the director-general of the Dutch colony of New Netherland, purchase of the island of Manhattan on May 24, 1626.
According to legend, he persuaded the natives, perhaps a Metoac band of Lenape known as the Canarsee, who were actually native to what is now Brooklyn – to “sell” the island for a handful of trade goods worth approximately 60 guilders (appx. $24.)
I’ve often said that there are those in Congress looking to give New York back to the Indians.
In case you were wondering, the first person to jump from the bridge was Robert E. Odlum (and not Steve Brodie) on May 19, 1885.
Robert, a swimming teacher, made the jump in a costume bearing his initials. He survived the pre-announced jump, but died shortly thereafter from internal injuries. Apparently, no one told him taking the high dive off the bridge would get him killed.
This showed him.
And so it goes
The Haus of Dcaligari 