Brooklyn Bridge: 1883
Location: New York (Spans the East River)
First steel-wire suspension bridge.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964.
Initially, Brooklyn Bridge was known as ‘New York and Brooklyn Bridge’. It was given its present name by the city government, in 1915.
With a main span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m), it was the longest suspension bridge in the world until 1903.
Tower Bridge: 1894
Location: London, England (Spans the River Thames)
Tower Bridge is sometimes mistakenly referred to as London Bridge which is the next bridge upstream.
Tower Bridge remains open on a daily basis. 10:00 to 18:30 – 1st April to 30th September, and 09:30 to 18:00 – 1st October to 31st March.
In 1974, the original operating mechanism was largely replaced by a new electro-hydraulic drive system.
In May 1997, the ‘unexpected’ opening of Tower Bridge divided the motorcade of US President Bill Clinton.
Golden Gate Bridge: 1937
Location: San Francisco, California (San Francisco Bay)
The Golden Gate Bridge has been closed three times for weather.
The color of the bridge is officially called international orange.
With a length of 1.7 mi it was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed.
The steel used to build the bridge was made in New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania and shipped through the Panama Canal.
The bridge has approximately 1,200,000 total rivets.
goldengate.org
Charles Bridge: 15th Century
Location: Prague, Czech Republic (Spans the Vltava River)
Charles Bridge is the second oldest bridge in Czech Republic
Eggs were used to enrich the mortar to make it bind to the stone blocks better.
The foundation stone was laid in 1357 on the 9th day of the 7th month at 5:31 AM. Charles IV chose this time so that the date and time were a sequence of odd numbers, 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1.
Capital repairs of the bridge took place between 1965 and 1978.
During the end of the Thirty Years’ War in 1648, the Swedes occupied the west bank of the Vltava, and as they tried to advance into the Old Town a battle erupted with the heaviest fighting taking place right on the bridge.
“Wind and Rain” Bridge: 1910
Location: Chengyang, China (Spans the Linxi River)
The Bridge was built without a single nail.
The bridge is a Unesco World Heritage site.
These bridges provided local residents with places to meet, relax, socialize and exchange views.
The “Wind and Rain” Bridge is protected as a valued cultural relic of Dong people of China.
PHOTOS
Brooklyn Bridge Photos – New York
Photo of the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset.
Looking at Brooklyn and the bridge.
THEN – Historic Brooklyn Bridge Photo
NOW – Modern Brooklyn Bridge Photo
Old Historic Poster from the building of the Brooklyn Bridge
Tower Bridge Photos – London
Tower Bridge At Night (Photo from boston.com/bigpicture )
Ship passing under Tower Bridge.
Photo of the building of Tower Bridge – 1892.
Tower Bridge at Sunset
Tower Bridge – Miniland, Legoland.
Golden Gate Bridge Photos – San Francisco
The long reach of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Golden Gate Bridge coming out of the Fog.
Historic Photo of the Golden Gate Bridge.
View from the Golden Gate Bridge.
A closer view for the Golden Gate.
Charles Bridge Photos – Prague
Boats on the Vltava River in Prague.
The magic of Charles Bridge and Prague.
Sunrise over Charles Bridge, Prague Czech Republic.
Charles Bridge Covered in Snow.
Charles Bridge At Nigh.
Painting Bonus: Fighting on Charles Bridge in 1648 during the Thirty Years’ War.
“Wind and Rain” Bridge Photos – China
Wind and Rain Bridge in China.
“Wind and Rain” Chengyang, China
A look inside the “wind and Rain” Bridge.
No nails were used in building the “Wind and Rain” Bridge.
Walking up to the “Wind and Rain” Birdge.