THE WONDER OF THE WORLD
A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge 

Saying the Brooklyn Bridge is just a bridge is like saying the Mona Lisa is just a painting, or the Great Pyramid of Giza is just a neat pile of stones.

 

When it was finally completed in 1883, this bridge was celebrated as “the eighth wonder of the world,” “the beginning of New York,” and the pride of the United States. It’s also a great story in which greed, tragedy, and seemingly insurmountable odds were overcome by hard work, ingenuity, and sacrifice. Today’s quest is both an extraordinarily scenic 1.3-mile stroll from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and a journey into the past that tells the story and explains the fascination with New York’s most famous landmark.

 

Ages: 12 to 102

Time: 1 hr if you rush/all day if you don’t   

Best time: anytime (the edges of the day are the quietest)

Price: $5.99

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Extensions: at the other end you can a) turn around and walk back b) explore the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park, both offering wonderful views of Manhattan, the East River, and the Brooklyn Bridge c) and/or ride the subway back to Manhattan.

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Starting point: City Hall Park in Lower Manhattan, reached by via the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall Subway Station (4, 5, 6) or the City Hall Station (R, W) or the Chambers Street Station (J, Z).