Stiles, volume ii of which appeared that same year of 1869, the idea for a bridge was exactly as old as the century, the first serious proposal having been recorded in brooklyn in 1800. The settlement began in the 17th century as the small dutchfounded town of breuckelen on the east river shore of long island, grew to be a sizeable city in the 19th century, and was consolidated in 1898 with new york city then confined to manhattan and part of the bronx, the remaining rural areas of kings county. The brooklyn bridge would not have existed without john and washington roebling, father and son. It took more than a decade to build, cost the life of its designer, and was constantly criticized by skeptics who predicted the entire structure was going to collapse into new yorks east river.
Mary shapiros history of the brooklyn bridge is not only a fitting tribute to the skill, daring and ingenuity of its builders, but a fascinating chronicle that will delight bridge enthusiasts, new yorkers, engineers, historians, photographers, and any admirer of human accomplishment on a grand scale. The book is divided into five parts that prove to be an excellent reflection on the character of brooklyn. Mccullough, a masterful storyteller brought the history of the brooklyn bridge to life. A history of brooklyn bridge park columbia university press. Done in a advanced picture book form, the author does a great job of including just the right amount of resource information to make the book educational yet entertaining. Ever since his parentsrussian immigrantsinvented the stuffed teddy bear five months ago, josephs life has turned upside down. Join erica wagner, author of the new biography chief engineer. A history of brooklyn bridge park by the 1970s, the brooklyn piers had become a wasteland on the new york city waterfront. The only book on the brooklyn bridge you need to read.
Of all the engineering advances in the 1800s, the brooklyn bridge stands out as perhaps the most famous and most remarkable. Riveting historical fiction that is by turns accessible and ornate, very real. A history of brooklyn bridge park recounts the grassroots, multivoiced, and contentious effort, beginning in the 1980s, to transform brooklyns defunct piers into a beautiful, urban oasis. Fascinating pictorial and written history of new york citys brooklyn bridge. We have put together an exclusive compilation of kids books about brooklyn. First published in 1972, the great bridge is the classic account of one of the greatest engineering feats of all time. With 167 prints and photographs is as colossal, magnificent, and substantial as the subject of the book. Historic photos of the brooklyn bridge, text and captions by john manbeck, is a handsome coffee table book from union square press and a truly eyepopping and breathtaking pictorial history. Riveting historical fiction that is by turns accessible and ornate, very real but with a touch of.
Page 267 murphy was, soon after, appointed attorney and counsel to the corporation of his native city, and, consequently, became familiar with the nature and operation of municipal corporations generally. Fourteen of walker evanss evocative photographs of brooklyn bridge, most of which have never been published, appear in this edition of alan trachenbergs brooklyn bridge. It took pluck and luck on the part of many people to make it happen, and we tell some surprising stories in our book. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge, published by simon and schuster. It has been designated as a national historic landmark by the u. The history of brooklyn bridge is told in a factual sequence consisting of a series of short facts providing a simple method of relating the history and events of the brooklyn bridge. He had previously designed and constructed shorter suspension bridges, such as roeblings delaware aqueduct in lackawaxen, pennsylvania, and the john a. The movement to resist commercial development on the piers reveals how concerned citizens came together to shape the future of their community. New book details history, development of brooklyn bridge park.
Prospect park opens to the public in 1867, and one of brooklyns most famous landmarks, the brooklyn bridge, is opened in 1883. The brooklyn bridge turned 125 years old on may 24th, which means its time for you to read the great bridge. Lean about new york through this brooklyn bridge tour. A perfect summer nights story starts with books beneath the bridge. Brooklynites, the brooklyn bridge, the navy yard, coney island and the dodgers. In his book the great bridge, author david mccullough writes that the construction took the lives of 21. The first is a peek into the people and personalities that make up the fabric of life in brooklyn. In the new afterword trachenberg explores the history of hart cranes the bridge, especially the poems integral relationship with the powerful photography of evans. The great bridge book by david mccullough official. This monumental book tells the enthralling story of one of the greatest accomplishments in our nations history, the building of what was then the.
Like the two other public library systems in new york city, it is an independent nonprofit organization that is funded by the new york city and state governments, the federal government, and private donors. A picture history of the brooklyn bridge, shapiro, mary j. We are excited to share that nancy webster, executive director of the brooklyn bridge park conservancy, recently released a new book a history of brooklyn bridge park. The book is a skillful and insightful synthesis of materials about brooklyn bridge from such diverse fields as history, engineering, literature and art. The williamsburg bridge was the 2nd bridge to be built over the east river and when it opened in 1903, it took over the brooklyn bridge s record as the worlds longest suspension bridge span, a record it held until 1924, and was actually built by the roebling company, the namesake company of the builders of the brooklyn bridge. Its easily the best book on the brooklyn bridge and ultimately one of the best books on new york city history. The decadeslong struggle to get it constructed is emblematic of modern new york, and the fact that succeeds for the most part is, in fact, a miracle.
Rare contemporary photos and engravings, accompanied by extensive, detailed captions, recall construction, human drama, politics, much more. A picture history of the brooklyn bridge by mary j. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge. Brooklyn bridge park not only recounts the history but teases out its. Washington roebling, the man who built the brooklyn bridge for an indepth conversation with fellow writer kevin baker about the roeblings, the building of the brooklyn bridge, and the making of modern new york. The current brooklyn bridge was conceived by german immigrant john augustus roebling in 1852. A history of brooklyn bridge park recounts the grassroots, multivoiced, and contentious effort, beginning in the 1980s, to transform brooklyn. Brooklyn had been without professional baseball since 1958. Its the summer of 1903 in brooklyn and all fourteenyearold joseph michtom wants is to experience the thrill, the grandeur, and the electricity of the new amusement park at coney island. But after reading a history of brooklyn bridge park by nancy webster and david shirley, ive gained a new appreciation for this varied and wellsculpted public space. Haws account is not a history of how the bridge was made, but rather of what people have made of the brooklyn bridge in film, music, literature, art, and politicsfrom its opening ceremonies to. The opening of the brooklyn bridge was an extremely grand affair that was held on may 24, 1883.
The brooklyn public library bpl is the public library system of the borough of brooklyn, in new york city. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge is a 1972 book about the construction of the brooklyn bridge written by popular historian. The first edition of the novel was published in january 1st 1972, and was written by david mccullough. This book takes the form of a long poem spanning eight parts, beginning with an ode proem. Winning acclaim for its comprehensive look at the building of the brooklyn. Great bridge the epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge. Over 6,000 people have attended the series since 2012. Profusely illustrated account of the greatest engineering achievement of the 19th century. Mcculloughs new book on pioneers history draws criticism. Here is a visual history of a bridge that inspired poets, painters and architects, and, most important, remains a glorious promenade for the millions who stroll it. John manbecks historic photos of the brooklyn bridge, is a collection of 200 photographs and illustrations, many of them captivating and rarely seen until now. It was a marvel of engineering back in 18691883 when it was built.
The brooklyn bridge, empire state building, the great wall and hoover dam. Henrik krogius, joanne witty untangle the tale of the. While it might seem gratuitous to have 167 illustrations of the same structure, the different angles, times of day, events and maintain the audiences fascination. In this outstanding book, mccullough tells that taleof how the bridge came to be built from 1869 to 1883 and of the extraordinary difficulties. Riveting historical fiction that is by turns accessible and ornate, very real but with a touch of magical realism. The late 1800s brooklyn thrives in 1897, the brooklyn museum opens, though at the time it is known as the brooklyn institute of arts and sciences. Published on the fortieth anniversary of its initial publicatio.
The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge mccullough, david on. So, uh, why does new york build really, really big things. Newbery medalist karen hesse masterfully entwines josephs comingofage tale and that of his big, colorful family with the heartbreaking stories of the children under the bridge. As richard haw shows in this first of its kind cultural history, the brooklyn bridge owes as much to the imagination of the public as it does to the historical events. The roeblingsfather and sontoiled for decades, fighting competitors, corrupt politicians, and the laws of nature to fabricate a bridge which, after 100 years, still provides one of the major avenues of access to one. A brilliant feat of 19thcentury engineering, the brooklyn bridge was the first bridge to use steel for cable wire, and during its construction explosives were used inside a pneumatic caisson for the first time. The only book on the brooklyn bridge you need to read esquire. By the 1970s, the brooklyn piers had become a wasteland on the new york city waterfront. From learning to count with local landmarks and adventures, to the history of the brooklyn bridge for youngsters, your children will have fun with these reads, especially recognizing all their favorite familiar spots in brooklyn. Essentially it asks the question of why brooklyn bridge achieved such great impact on the nineteenth century american imagination and why it has continued to have a significant impact on. It is the fifth largest public library system in the united states.
How a community reclaimed and transformed new york citys waterfront with journalist david shirley. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge pdf epub book. Roebling suspension bridge between cincinnati, ohio, and covington, kentucky. The history of european settlement in brooklyn spans more than 350 years. In the 19th century, the brooklyn bridge was viewed as the greatest engineering feat of mankind. During his administration, he introduced a system of. Mary shapiros a picture history of the brooklyn bridge. The epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge, if you havent already. A stroll at dusk along the waterfront paths of brooklyn bridge park presents a look at new york city like no other the fading skies over liberty island and new jersey, the silhouettes of downtown manhattan as the lights flicker on, the bridges of the east river awakening for another beautiful night.
According to the best history of brooklyn ever written, a threevolume work by a medical doctor named henry r. The book describes the 1869 to 1883 project to build. Brooklyn history comes alive in three new books new york. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 608 pages and is available in hardcover format. On may 24, 1883, the brooklyn bridge over the east river opened, connecting the great cities of new york and brooklyn for the first time in history. This is an amazing book on the history of the brooklyn bridge. To brooklyn bridge and ending with a transfigured vision of the bridge.
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