The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River. At 5,989 feet (1825 m), it was the longest suspension bridge in the world from its opening until 1903, and the first steel-wire suspension bridge. It is an iconic image of the New York skyline and it was easy to recognise due to the amount of movies that we had seen it in.
On the first day, a total of 1,800 vehicles and 150,300 people crossed what was then the only land passage between Manhattan and Brooklyn. The bridge's main span over the East River is 1,595 feet 6 inches (486.3 m). The bridge cost $15.5 million to build and approximately 27 people died during its construction.
One week after the opening, on May 30, 1883, a rumor that the Bridge was going to collapse caused a stampede, which crushed and killed at least twelve people. On May 17, 1884, P. T. Barnum helped to squelch doubts about the bridge's stability—while publicising his famous circus—when one of his most famous attractions, Jumbo, led a parade of 21 elephants over the Brooklyn Bridge.
We then headed for Staten Island, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay. With a population of 491,730, Staten Island is the least populated of the five boroughs and by far the most suburban. Whilst walking about here it was easy to feel that we had entered a different city as it is so different to the likes of Manhattan. There was plenty of huge Victorian style houses and every one had massive gardens in contrast to anywhere else we seen that consisted of multi-story flats.
Staten Island was formed during the last ice age as huge glaciers the size of the Empire State Building reached as far South as New York City and it was originally connected to the mainland before the Hudson river formed a path, cutting Staten Island off in the process.
To get there we took the ferry which is operated by the New York City Council for free to the 21 million passengers that use it annualy. The journey takes around 25 minutes to make the 5.2 mile crossing. By far the best reason to use it, and no doubt the reason why so many people use it is the amazing up close views of the Statue of Liberty and historic Ellis Island. A vast majority of tourists actually get the ferry one way and then run round to board the ferry back to the mainland again.
The island also offers spectacular views back onto Manhattan island and its skyline:
We were fortunate enough to head over in the late afternoon so that after having a look about the sun was starting to set. Therefore when we got the ferry back, the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan was just starting to light up and we were able to get a great view in a different setting.
The Statue of Liberty, officially titled Liberty Enlightening the World was dedicated on October 28, 1886, to the United States by the people of France to represent the friendship between the two countries established during the American Revolution. It is a monument commemorating the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. It represents a woman wearing a stola, a radiant crown and sandals, trampling a broken chain, carrying a torch in her raised right hand and a tabula ansata, where the date of the Declaration of Independence JULY IV MDCCLXXVI is inscribed, in her left arm. Standing on Liberty Island in New York Harbour, it welcomes visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans traveling by ship.
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