History Today: When New York's iconic Brooklyn Bridge was inaugurated

Remember Shah Rukh Khan’s Aman running on the Brooklyn Bridge in the movie ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’? Well, one of New York’s most famous architectures, the Brooklyn Bridge opened on May 24, 1883. The bridge is important as it connected the cities of New York and Brooklyn for the first time in history.

If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.

On this day in 1844, Samuel FB Morse transmitted the first official telegraph message, marking a pivotal moment in communication history. In 1830, the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb” was first published in Poems for Our Children by Sarah Josepha Hale.

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Here is all that took place on this day across the world on May 24.

Inauguration of Brooklyn Bridge

Visible in many TV shows and movies, the Brooklyn Bridge is a part of New York’s identity. It officially opened on May 24, 1883, over the East River, uniting the cities of New York and Brooklyn for the first time. At the time of its inauguration, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, spanning 1,595.5 feet.

The dedication ceremony drew thousands of residents from both Brooklyn and Manhattan Island along with President Chester A Arthur and New York Governor Grover Cleveland presiding over the event.

The construction of the bridge, a monumental engineering achievement, began under John A Roebling. Following his untimely accidental death, his son Washington Roebling, assumed the role of chief engineer. Washington later suffered from decompression sickness, which confined him to bed. His wife, Emily Warren Roebling, then took charge, overseeing the day-to-day operations and serving as the crucial link between her husband and the construction crew. Her unwavering dedication was vital to the project’s successful completion.

And so, on the day of the inauguration, she was honoured with the first carriage ride across the bridge with a rooster in her lap, symbolising victory. An estimated 250,000 people crossed the Brooklyn Bridge within 24 hours since opening, taking advantage of the broad promenade situated above the roadway, a feature specifically designed by John Roebling for pedestrian enjoyment.

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The bridge’s completion was met with widespread acclaim. Dubbed the “eighth wonder of the world,” it quickly became an iconic symbol of New York City . Its innovative design and impressive scale inspired artists, poets, and engineers alike.

The first telegraph message sent

Now extinct, telegraphs were an important part of communication in the 19th and 20th centuries. They played a crucial role in the history of communication. “What hath God wrought,” this was the first message transmitted via a telegraph, by Samuel FB Morse from the US Capitol in Washington, DC, to his associate Alfred Vail at the B&O Railroad’s Mount Clare Station in Baltimore, Maryland in 1844.

The successful transmission demonstrated the practicality of long-distance electronic communication, leading to the rapid expansion of telegraph lines across the United States and eventually the world. This innovation laid the groundwork for future advancements in communication technologies, including the telephone and the Internet.

Morse’s achievement was the culmination of years of experimentation and advocacy. In 1843, he secured $30,000 in federal funding to construct the 38-mile telegraph line between Washington and Baltimore. The project’s success not only validated Morse’s invention but also showcased the potential of government-supported technological innovation.

‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ rhyme was published

One Of the most popular English rhymes, “Mary Had a Little Lamb” was published on this day in 1830. The rhyme first appeared in the ‘Poems for Our Children’ written by American writer and editor Sarah Josepha Hale.

The poem was inspired by an actual incident involving a young girl named Mary Sawyer from Sterling, Massachusetts. In 1815, at the age of nine, Mary rescued a sickly lamb rejected by its mother and raised it as a pet. One day, the lamb followed her to school, causing a commotion among her classmates. This event left a lasting impression on Mary and those around her.

The poem gained popularity and became one of the most enduring nursery rhymes in American culture. In 1877, Thomas Edison used “Mary Had a Little Lamb” as the first audio recording on his newly invented phonograph, further cementing its place in history.

Today, it remains a beloved nursery rhyme, symbolising the innocence of childhood and the bond between humans and animals.

This Day, That Year

• On this day in 2000, Israel ended its 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon.

• Carl Magee of Oklahoma was granted a US patent for the first coin-controlled parking meter in 1938.

With inputs from agencies