Our hotel is centrally located near the best the Big Apple has to offer, in part because of our close proximity to the famed Manhattan Bridge which is one three suspension bridges connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn over the East River. Read on for some interesting facts about this major landmark of our city.
Interesting Origins
Construction for the Manhattan Bride began after the raging success of the Brooklyn Bridge which had become overcrowded. The bridge took eleven years to construct, and though now it is nicknamed the “Blue Bridge,” it was originally painted gray. Two statues called Miss Brooklyn and Miss Manhattan adorned the top of the bridge to symbolize unity within the city. The originals are now in the Brooklyn Art Museum.
An Ever-Changing City Staple
In addition to the color change in 1970, this bridge went underwent so many design changes that a structural design flaw still exists today (this accounts for the slight sway you feel when crossing the bridge). Originally, the bridge was meant to be one of the most ornate and opulent structures in the country. However, the political situation in the city changed mid-design and another architect was hired to finish the bridge. The new design did not account for public transportation and later the trains that would frequent the space. Today, the revised design causes an eight-inch dip between the two sides of the bridge.
