New York City is home to many marvels of modern engineering. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the Brooklyn Bridge is definitely a contender. It has become an icon of the city itself; both locals and people from all over the world flock to it every day.
The bridge opened in May of 1883, but the public initially had some doubts as to whether or not it could withstand large amounts of traffic. To assuage this concern, P. T. Barnum had a parade of 21 elephants march over the bridge. They were led by Jumbo, an African elephant who was the star attraction of the circus. In fact, his name is the reason “jumbo” became part of the English lexicon!
The Brooklyn Bridge has been in countless films and television shows, and was even the topic of the first Ken Burns PBS documentary!
If you’re lucky, you might even see one of the Peregrine Falcons that have built their nest upon it.
All of our tours that take off from Manhattan show you a glimpse of the Brooklyn Bridge at the beginning and end of the flight. No matter which one you pick, you’re making the right decision.
