5 Day Celebration for Brooklyn Bridge's 125th Birthday

Brooklyn Bridge circa 1896.

The 125th birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge will be observed this month with a five day celebration from May 22nd through May 26th, Mayor Bloomberg and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz announced earlier this week. Completed in 1883, the bridge opened with a “People’s Day” celebration; for a penny toll the general public was permitted to traverse its span. (A few days later, on Memorial Day, 12 pedestrians were trampled to death when the crowd believed the bridge was collapsing and panicked.)

The 2008 celebration will begin with a public birthday party on Thursday, May 22nd at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park DUMBO, featuring live music by the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Grucci fireworks, and the unveiling of special bridge lighting that will illuminate the bridge from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. through Memorial Day. It doesn't look like the Brooklyn Bridge waterfall will be ready in time for the festivities.

A new pedestrian entrance in DUMBO, with better signage and energy efficient lighting, will be opened to coincide with the anniversary. On Fulton Ferry Pier, the Telectroscope will let Londoners join the party, and on Sunday the 25th the Tour de Brooklyn bike ride will lead hundreds of bicyclists through Brooklyn and over the bridge. More details, including information about guided tours and lectures, here.

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By John Del Signore in News on May 14, 2008 10:28 AM

Comments [rss]

mikey1

Does anyone know when the fireworks start?

sonyactivision

A bridge with a death toll...it's just like family!

yoplay

doug aitken i meant.

yoplay

#2... not new, been hear for a while, I just disagree with that project coming to fruition, and what it's about. Hang out in the subways after a big rain storm and you'll see waterfalls in the city. The waterfalls project is about an artist who has had the luck of becoming successful and now people will throw money at any idea he comes up with. There's amazing artists that specialize in public space projects and this is an example of an established artist going in the opposite direction. It's the same with Doug Aken's silly projections on the outside of the moma. Yup it's big, and big is fun, and that's what money can buy. On the other hand watching the fireboats that spray in the river is beautiful and more art than this fabricated nature. This is as great as Wildwater kingdom.

Gringcorp

Without the presence of the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Borough's subsequent annexation by New York City, there's no way a lightweight like Marty would be running anything more taxing than a whelk stand. No wonder the little toad is celebrating.

ed_Extinct

#1 you must be new.

nyc will be great when they're finished building it.

yoplay

thank god that waterfall garbage won't be going on at the time of the celebration... scaffolding all over this city, now they are moving it out into the rivers... great.