Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York, United States

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York, United States

Few bridges are as iconic as New York's beloved Brooklyn Bridge, which spans the East River and connects Manhattan and Brooklyn. Among the world's first wire cable suspension bridges, it established a number of engineering precedents, according to the National Park Service, which designated the bridge a National Historic Landmark. The bridge was conceived in 1855 by John Roebling (who died before ground was broken), and work was carried out first by Roebling's son, and later by his daughter-in-law. The Brooklyn Bridge is a quintessential American landmark writes Dupré in Bridges, its "heavy Gothic portals and ethereal web of cables have inspired generations of poets and artists. Its image has graced baseball programs, wallpaper, china, stamps, stock certificates, and more than a few biceps." Since opening day in 1883, it "has tugged on the human heart for as many reasons as there are hearts."