Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge was designed by John Augustus Roebling and Wilhelm Hildenbrand in 1867. Roebling died due to an injury sustained during its construction. There were a number of accidents nad deaths during it's construction; explosions, fires, illnesses like the bends, contractor fraud and over twenty deaths.

In January of 1870 they began clearing the site for the towers. They were to stand forty four and a half feet below the tide and support eighty thousand tons.It was during the construction of these towers that many workers experienced the bends due to a build up of nitrogen in the bloodstream. The pressure of being under water was the primary cause. At the beginning of this construction they dug just six inches per week. In 1871 they grounded the towers on the bottom of the river.

The bridge opened on May twenty fourth of 1883 at two pm. And there was a protest because this day coincided with the queen of Englands birthday. The initial toll was one cent on openeing day and threee cents after that.