1883 New York Harbor Marker

This historical marker shares the story of the creation of the Brooklyn Bridge and offers a stunning view of New York Harbor and Manhattan. The marker is accessible from the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade and pays tribute to the once independent city of Brooklyn and its early history. Brooklyn was the third-largest city in America at the time of the 1880 census and was a center of industry, commerce and cultural diversity.

In 1883, when construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began,  Brooklyn was the third largest city in the United States. Ferry lines were carrying 50 million passengers, mostly commuters, into New York City as early as 1870. There were no skyscrapers then blocking the view from Brooklyn to Staten Island and over Manhattan to the Hudson and New Jersey shore. In 1883, Brooklyn's port was one of the busiest in the world, and from the bridge, one could see ships from around the globe coming and going as well as a string of warehouses, shipyards and small factories. Governor's Island, Liberty Island and Ellis Island are all nearby.

Brooklyn Historical Society website http://www.brooklynhistory.org/