The Brooklyn Bridge and the Gilded Age
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- The Brooklyn bridge represented the growth and might of the industrial age, and the coming of age of the United States, and its largest city. There is much that can be said of the Brooklyn bridge, but, marvel that it is, it also represented the novel challenges of an era of massive change, many contradictions, and magnificent architecture. It is history that deserves to be remembered.
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
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Script by THG
#history #thehistoryguy #brooklynbridge
The attitudes between New York and Brooklyn didn't change over the next century; Howard Cosell wrote that Brooklyn residents thought nothing of going to New York, while New Yorkers regarded a trip to "the other borough" as carrying all the hardships of a safari.
Rather like, Gung-ho, the movie. Tom Hanks, John Candy. The bridge they built to a place no one was interested....
yankees go figure
Probably because the idiots can't drive...
Well, if it makes them feel better, the rest of the country, and even the rest of NY state, don't care about the difference between the boroughs and think they are all equally insufferable.
Both places are a dump
When I finally saw the Brooklyn Bridge in person, it felt surreal as I was so familiar with the image as an icon for NYC.
Your presentations are very good and you keep them interesting. Your delivery has a lot to do with that. All my high school history teachers were pretty boring and not very good. There was one, he lasted a year, his methods were unorthodox but he got through, at least to me. I left high school at 16, it just bored the hell out of me. I eventually put down the science fiction at around the age of 23 and just picked up the sciences and history, and off I went. Now, at the age of 70; I don't know who said it, but truth is stranger than fiction is certainly true, and then there's, "whats the difference between fact and fiction? Fiction has to make sense." Our schools need more instructors like you.
Agreed!
One of my prized personal & historical items is a small booklet on wire ropes, cables and rigging that was printed by the Roebeling Wire Rope Company. It was given to me by an industrial rigging company when I was 18 years old, back in the late 70’s. I carried that small booklet in my lunch pail for over 40 years and across North America from Pruhdoe Bay to Palo Verde, Arizona. I have bequeathed it to my daughter who is in the construction business. She will probably never have to rig a cracking tower at an oil refinery, but she will know her old pops had, a half century earlier.
Those were manufactured 20-minutes from me, in Roebling, N.J.
Wow! Roebling’s home was on Cranberry St. The house is gone, but I often walked by,just but see the view.
If you cross the bridge, you will see the cables are wrapped and enclosed. I believe in the early 1980s, a cable on the bridge snapped,resulting in a death.History,that deserves to be remembered!
Damned awesome, man!!!
Brilliant design and engineering. A real New York icon along with the Chrysler Building and the Empire State. Thanks, Lance and all.
Fun Fact: The John A Roebling Bridge in Covington/Cincinnati is featured in Rain Man.
The bridge also has a metal grate “road” which makes it interesting to drive across. You can see the water below through the metal grate road. I love driving across that bridge. It’s beautiful at night.
Yes, that is quite an experience. And since I have very little reason to ever drive to Covington, KY, it's a rare experience for me as well. Looking at the suspension bridge while visiting Cincinnati makes its pedigree quite clear. It looks like a mini-Brooklyn Bridge.
I smiled when it was acknowledged in the video.
The metal grate flooring for bridges are really a thrill on a motorcycle. Several of the older bridges over the upper Mississippi River had this type flooring, and I enjoyed the trip over the river. Once a river tow boat was passing right underneath. It has been a long time since I left that area, but I believe it was at Keokuk, Iowa that the old bridge had that flooring. And from the west end of the bridge, it was just a short hop to the locks where one could watch the boats lock through. It was quite a good distance in height between the two pools, so it was fun to watch the boats rise or fall. Especially the big tows. One of the great pluses of watching THG is the memories that he can dog up in one's mind.
My Pop used tell us it was the "singing bridge ". We lived in Springdale at the time, and Pop worked Downtown somewhere. But across the river cigarettes were way cheaper and he and my Mother both smoked. You could get firecrackers there, too. But never get caught with them in your car in Ohio.
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is the same.
There used to be a metal grate bridge in Minneapolis crossing the Mississippi river, it was super slick in rainy weather 🌧 and outright treacherous in winter ❄️ with it was covered with ice and snow!
Always a treat to see when visiting... Can't help but think 🤔 of Sinatra when talking about NY
Have a great day everyone
Good morning gentlemen.
I really have to thank you again. Your wonderful historical tales have greatly helped me over the last several years.
I have EXTREME memory loss, and these lessons have helped me learn to find ways that overcome my disabilities.
Thank you for doing this video about my bridge. I bought it many years ago after some fierce negotiations with a man who said if I believed some other thing, he had a bridge to sell me...
History deserves to be remembered
David Mccollough's book "The Great Bridge" is a great read on this story.
Jeremy, there's also a great book about the "sandhogs" and the building of the tunnels from New Jersey to NYC. Sorry, can't remember the title or the author.
One of McCullough's best.
Jeremy Foland, NO ARGUMENT HERE!!
With Tammany Hall's grubby hands trying to get a piece of the action, IT'S AN ABSOLUTE MIRACLE the Brooklyn Bridge was built AT ALL!!!🤨🤨🤨🌞🌞🌞✌✌✌✌
Every McCullough book is a great read on every story!
I'm reading "The Great Bridge" - amazing book.
I thought there would never be another Paul Harvey. Then along comes THG. Never disappoints.
Paul Harvey was an extreme wing nut who was friends all the wrong people. He spread simplistic right wing propaganda.
And now you know.... the rest... of the story.
The History Guy always gives us...”The rest of the story”.
More like Garrison Keeler
@@jackkerouac6186 Nice, I don't think many people remember the wonderful Keillor.
I lived for a number of years in Roebling NJ. It was a company town built by Roebling for the workers of his wire and cable company. This is where the cables for the Brooklyn Bridge were made. It is a lovely town and so full of history. There is a very large slice of the cable used in making the Bridge on display in town. Thanks for the great video.
Legend has it that Parker sold the prison to several inmates while serving his sentence.
Amazing structure built when things were meant to last!
Built when America believed in infrastructure and that the amount paid for it was gained back in multiples.
Made the last? Things tend to be over built back then because they had no idea what the limits were since they had no computers to do simulations.
One of the New York city bridges needed to have its cables replaced because at the time they save money by not using galvanized wire.
The Brooklyn bridge, icon of New York City! Thanks THG!!
I'm born and raised in Queens N.Y. and have never tired of the NYC skyline either during the day or at night when the bridges spanning the East River including the Brooklyn Bridge, are lit up and crossing into Manhattan via the Queensborough Bridge and witnessing the spectacular, awe inspiring sight of New York's iconic bridges on either side. It just never gets old. It's been a long time since I've home but I'll always love N.Y. and the Yankees. Thanks for the vid. HG. 💖 ✌💖
I've always loved history and the way it is presented here is perfect!
Precise clear and accurate.
I still cringe every once in awhile waiting to hear...
"stop talking! "
"Go stand in the hall until the bell rings!"
"Spit out that gum!"
But it never comes!
Occasionally I'll hear " get your feet off the coffee table I just polished that!" But I can live with that.
Thanks for having the sign I made you on set! Love your videos!!
Nice. Thanks.
May I recommend a look at the Mackinac bridge? Pronounced mack-in-naw, it is still the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere. Completed in 1957.
Shanghaied, I still have the U.S. 3 cent postage stamp of 1958 commemorating the bridge. I was in the 4th grade when my grandfather gave it to me.
This must be a Michigan thing. One can never convince a person from Michigan that the Verrazano Narrows bridge is the longest in the US and the Golden Gate is the second longest. The Mackinac though a mighty bridge, is the third longest suspension bridge in the US.
The longest suspension bridge in the Western hemisphere is the Humber Bridge in Kingston Upon Hull, England. It was opened to traffic in 1981. Prior to that it was the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge which ,as previously stated, is still the longest in the USA.
@@kutter_ttl6786 Kingston on Hull, England is in the eastern hemisphere. However it is in the northern hemisphere where the other bridges are.
@@georgestreicher252 Apparently it has the longest suspended length. So, if you use that definition, which no one else does, the Mackinac bridge is the longest.
David McCullough's book on the building of the bridge is the definitive story I recommend to anyone who loves history and the story of the growth of NY
Great episode! I’m from New York and appreciate learning about this history! The Brooklyn Bridge is a beautiful bridge!
Some years ago a PBS documentary about this bridge started off about huge gatherings at Times Square during Apollo 11 landing, a reporter asked a 90-something lady what does she think about the celebrations of first men on the moon, she said "this ain't nothing like the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge!"
loved the story...I had no idea about Mrs Roebling's role in the bridge
@History Guy...I assume you have read the book by David McCullough titled: 'The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge'.
It is a wonderful account of building that bridge. Just learning about 'Steel' back then was impressive. Where Stainless Steel was new and still being improved on. Also there is a fair amount of Lower Quality Steel in the cables of the bridge even today.
I read his book on the Panama Canal several years ago and really enjoyed the depth of his research. I'm sure his book on the bridge is excellent. I'll have to get a copy.
@@stevedietrich8936 it’s incredible. You will love it
Yes! It's a terrific book, "The Great Bridge"! I also have it on audio tape, read by Edward Hermann, a very talented reader.
One quote I recall from a New Yorker commenting on the opening of the bridge was, "All that trouble...just to get to Brooklyn."
Thank you for another wonderful history lesson!
ONCE AGAIN YOU'VE EDUCATED & ENTERTAINED ME. THANKS FOR ALL YOU'RE HARD WORK, YOU ARE APPRECIATED.
Turn off the caps lock, boomer
@@DudeInOhio85 Turn off the boomer hate Zed’er
Wow you are a history machine. Most reliable CZcamsr and you rarely miss a day. Happy Memorial Day history guy! You deserve it.
John A. Roebling also helped secure the cowboy as an enduring image. Right after the Civil War he helped build a 475 ft. suspension bridge across the Brazos River so cattle could be driven up the Chisholm Trail. The bridge still stands today, 151 years later, and is a centerpiece in Waco, Texas. It carried vehicles, cattle, and pedestrians for 100 of those years and now is reserved for pedestrians only. In many respects it looks like a scale model of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Somewhere in my library is a book on the Roeblings and the Bridge. It was quite impressive in the construction. Washington was no armchair soldier. He was in many of the greatest battles of the Civil War.
David McCullough wrote a book on it called “The Great Bridge”
Half my family in Brooklyn and the other half in Manhattan - was quite lively during 50's World Series time - only TV anyone had was in Brooklyn:)
Nice touch having that red Apple symbolizing the Big Apple.
Great video, Great bridge can't say much for the mayor of the city..... Thanks for your time and work in posting your video.....
I have walked over the Brooklyn Bridge several times in both directions over the center walkway. Great view of Manhattan. If you live or travel to NYC it will be a great experience.
Emily Warren Roebling was not only the wife and daughter-in-law of engineers, but also the sister of one. Her brother, Gouverneur Warren, was an 1850 West Point graduate, Union Army engineer who helped rush reinforcements to Gettysburg's Little Round Top, and after the war commanded the Army Corps of Engineers' St. Paul (Minn.) and Newport (R.I.) districts.
Good morning Lance. Coffee ingested, brain switched to the "ON" position. Please begin.
One of us. One of us. One of us
Yes coffee brain on very good
I’m with you! In Florida!
HaHahaha 🖒
The nice thing about Lance’s forgotten history videos is that even if you forgot to switch your brain to the “on” position, it’ll automatically switch to “on” while listening to the first couple words of any tale he tells. Definitely within my top 5(or so)ish YT channels. Bring back the bow tie #BBTBT
Being from Brooklyn, the bridge is matter of hometown pride. Thanks for taking on this topic!
I listened to the book, The Great Bridge, by David McCullough, but do not remember him mentioning the part about the con artist that you mentioned at the end. I enjoyed hearing about his misadventures. 🙂
5 am, and I'm ready for class.
Thank you, love the bridge history!
From 1883 until 1944, elevated trains of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit (Later Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit, the BMT) ran over the Brooklyn Bridge from a large terminal on Park Row opposite the City Hall. Originally cable-hauled (with assistance from small steam locomotives), the bridge was electrified with the els in Brooklyn, which covered the borough and nearby Queens. Trolley cars also ran over the bridge, sharing the roadway with wagons and cars, then switched to the el tracks when those trains were removed. The trolleys ran over the bridge until 1950.
Great job as always. David McCullough has a great book on the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and I would recommend that to anyone who is interested in diving deeper into the building of the bridge.
For most of the time, I look at THG video titles and think how boring that sounds. But I have learned to listen anyway. I'm very rarely disappointed. Every story has it's fascination.
Nothing is boring on this site!
@@ronfullerton3162 Except for the videos on tunnels... :)
@@skydiverclassc2031 Ha ha, good one!
Thank you for the morning lesson.
It passed into my family ownership years ago. We bought it for a $50.
i'll buy it off you for $100
@@thomaschristopher8593 one born every minute. I'm no fool. Scrap iron is $166 a ton. And that's in yankee money.
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@@marthatom753 Do you use the service of a Market/ Risk expertise. CZcamsr pretending to be an investor, like 99,99% of all CZcamsrs these days, parroting other people who also know nothing. I have yet to see any CZcamsr provide any evidence in their fantastical content.
@@albertbush9361 YES. I've been using the blueprint of Tracy Britt Cool for a while now. I circumvented downtrend and always procured 300k monthly as a newbie using her scheme.
It’s fun to walk across.
I did it a few hours after visiting Grovers Mills NJ
I once drove across the Brooklyn bridge from Long Island to Manhattan with my aunt, who lived on Long Island, my cousin, my Mom and my sister.
Until recently, the Brooklyn Bridge was considered only as a suspension bridge. While it is that, it is also engineered as a cable stay bridge and due to it using the galvanized wire rope from Roebling, the cables have never suffered from rust..
I certainly hope the algorithm likes this comment as much as I enjoyed the episode. Emily Roebling is certainly a person to be emulated!
Your comment is the first one I saw. The algorithm has smiled upon thee my friend 🙏🏿
Very nice. One thing you didn't mention though was that on opening day, there was a mad rush for people to be the first person to do something while on the bridge. One man was said to be smiling as he walked across the bridge playing a tuba.
Another excellent episode, I always enjoy these. Ty
Great way to start the week with THG!
Always a pleasure THG
Fun episode. I read a book on the building of this bridge several decades ago. You repeated details that I recall, but added many that I didn't know. Good job!
I love learning from you, I'm never bored!
Great episode as usual. Thanks.
Another Awesome video...Thank You Sir
Enlightening as always, thank you!
The 2003 Miniseries ‘Seven Wonders of the Industrial World’ has a fantastic episode on the Brooklyn Bridge
Thank you Mr. THG.
Thank you Lance! 💜
I believe walking the Brooklyn bridge should be on my bucket list.🙂
You always leave me wanting more
Several years ago, when I lived in NY, a story was published about a part that broke on the bridge and a city engineer was told to go to the Brooklyn side and get the necessary blueprints to build a replacement. It was necessary since every part of the bridge was unique and had to be built to spec. He rummaged through the prints in the Brooklyn office and puzzled over the architect's signature on the prints: WAR. Who, he wondered would sign his prints "war"? It suddenly occurred to him that these were drawings by Washington A Roebling himself. It took some time for him to convince his managers of the import of his find but eventually they were retrieved and properly protected and placed in a museum.
Another winner young man!! 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻🥇🏆
Hey Playboy, love 💘 that tie!
As always, interesting and provocative storytelling from the man in the bow tie
Thanks for your work
The amazing thing about the bridge is that it was built with stone and more wire then needed. Roberling knew that the manufacturer would cheat so specified 33% more wire per cable to insure it's strength. Today the other bridges in New York, built with steel, are deteriorating due to salt caused corrosion, while the Brooklyn bridge is still strong as ever. I also remember when they decided to resurface the bridge, they tore up the blacktop leaving the old gratings exposed. This caused a lot of noise as cars and trucks drove over it. This slowed down traffic reducing the number of accidents, and to the amazement of officials decreased traffic jams at either end. The old bridge still stands as a testament to Roberling's genius!
Thank you again THG. I always enjoy your videos & history lessons.
Good stuff Maynard🏆
👌👍🖖🙏😺
This is extraordinary.
Amazing how many landmark events were associated with the Brooklyn Bridge’s construction.
After watching this, though, I don’t think I’ll be crossing that bridge.
I've only just recently noticed how you take a page from Ken Burns and pan across a still picture, giving the viewer the impression of movement. Great trick. Keeps the viewers attention.
Great piece. Before the roadway was paved you could see through the grate to the water below. Made a cool noise as you drove across it.
Great videos; love these History Guy posts; could watch them all nite !!
Thanks. I am from Ohio but I know precious little about the Brooklyn bridge. Nice job, Lance and yours!
The Bridge was quite the place to be seen on after opening and the mania to be the first to cross it in a unique way had people on everything from stilts to walking backwards across it. Indeed there's an excellent American Experience Documentary from many years ago if you wanted to know more and it's hard to imagine how prominent it was when first built since buildings that would surpass its height were still in the future.
Something I learned about in College the Chicago fire is often discussed but the Peshtigo WI Fire happened the at same time the Chicago fire jumped the river into WI I stared with a book called Edan Burns
czcams.com/video/C4wi7ebOIWs/video.html
Oh, gosh. You just outdid yourself with the history of the Brooklyn Bridge. I was spellbound. I had heard so many bits and pieces of the story, but you put it all together in a very concise narration. Thanks, History Guy!
I actually walked across the bridge when I was in NYC. It's one of the fun things to do when you're a tourist, plus it's free. Or you can do the Highline, if you like walking.
Great vlog as always!
I must agree so helpful so clear example. Love this guy would love to hear his take on civil war
In Cincinnati there is a subway system that never opened. You should do one on that, BART, the EL, etc. I think it would be a worthy subject. Love the channel.
It's used by the elite and politicians.
Not by the lowly people that paid for it.
Always interesting
I wish one of the Roebling bridges in Pittsburgh still existed.
Nice tie!
Very good and informative video. Thanks so much.
This was so good! I always look forward to your videos when I get that notification. ☺️
An excellent snapshot of a historic bridge.
Excellent vid. Keep at it!
Great video !!
Tower suspension bridges built in the 19th century almost look like they blend into their natural surroundings.
We've very similar structures here in the UK and it's a testiment to Anglo-American engineering that they still stand proud.
In contrast, in China 37 bridges have collapsed during construction in the last five years.
I tell you one thing. The bends is so terribly painful
i'm surprised they discovered the cure so early. it's not an infectious or physical ailment like any other they would've encountered at the time.
Watching "Sea Hunt" as a small boy is where I found out about the Bends. Regular TV was more educational that most people think.
Erica Wagner’s book is excellent, the story of the Caissons, the currents, the bends , what an achievement, #1 on my list to visit when I manage to get there 👌🏻😎
I would love to see the history of the Paris catacombs thanks again for all the great episodes 😍
My grandmother A"H used to walk to work every day over the bridge - she couldn't afford the nickel streetcar fare.
Good to see Fleming and THG share a passion for bow ties!
Thanks, THG.
08:55 WRT the "Gilded Age". In that street scene are people from all (literal) walks of life, practically shoulder to shoulder. From street urchins to stall-holders to hard-working drivers with reliable jobs. I wonder who is in the lone carriage?
At 70yo, not exactly poor, still fully employed and working from home because Covid, I was struck by the thought that these days people of such different circumstances can live such separate lives they may never even see each other, let alone touch shoulders in the street.
According to the movie, "Kate & Leopold", there is a time portal at the Brooklyn Bridge that one accesses by jumping from the bridge at a particular point. We love time travel stories.