Start Brooklyn Bridge Promenade

The wooden walkway you are approaching is the famous elevated promenade of the Brooklyn Bridge. When it opened in eighteen eighty three, this bridge was the first fixed crossing of the East River, linking what were then two independent cities. Its design was a radical departure for its time, as it was the first bridge in history to use steel for its cable wire. The promenade itself was designed to be a grand, public space rather than just a utility, providing a way for pedestrians to traverse the mile long span high above the harbor. On its opening day, more than one hundred and fifty thousand people walked across these planks, marking a historic moment that effectively bridged the divide between Brooklyn and Manhattan.