Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Bridges

NYC is home to either the first or second most famous bridge in the U.S. depending who you ask (the other is the Golden Gate Bridge).  While the Brooklyn Bridge is a must visit on any tour, there are some other bridges to keep your eye out for.

The Brooklyn Bridge
Built to connect Manhattan to Brooklyn, the Brooklyn bridge is a NYC icon.  The bridge which is nearly 6000 feet long (1800m) took over 13 years to build (1870-1883).  Considering when the bridge was built and the equipment available at that time, the Brooklyn Bridge is an incredible achievement.  It was the world's largest suspension bridge for 20 years.  There is an elevated wooden walkway above traffic where you can walk to/from Manhattan to Brooklyn.  The Manhattan entrance is near City Hall.  The walk takes about 20 minutes. (Map)

 

Manhattan Bridge
While the Manhattan Bridge is hardly as famous as the Brooklyn Bridge, it is a constant fixture in your walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and when you visit the neighborhood of DUMBO.  Dumbo stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.  The Manhattan Bridge is a looming sight in this neighborhood as you can see in the pictures below.  The Manhattan Bridge opened in 1909. (Map)

The Bridges of Central Park
Scattered throughout Central Park are many bridges, some of which you will probably recognize from movies.  Some bridges are made of cast iron, such as Bow Bridge (first picture) or the ones you see by the Reservoir.  Others are made from stone such as you will see by the North Woods or the Ramble.
 
 


Sky Bridges
It's easy to miss these sky bridges while walking on the street, but for those with a good eye and the ability to walk while looking up you will find them.  They are mostly found connecting older former factories, but you can sometimes see them on newer buildings.  The bridges in these photos are located near the High Line in the Meatpacking District.
 

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