John Augustus Roebling, the creator of the Brooklyn Bridge, was born in Germany in 1806. He was a pioneer in the design of steel suspension bridges.

John Roebling proposed the design for the Brooklyn Bridge in 1854, emphasizing the need for stiffness in the flooring to withstand violent gales. He included six lines of trusses in his design to guard against oscillations.

On April 16, 1867, the act of incorporation became law, authorizing the cities of New York and Brooklyn to subscribe to $5 million in capital stock to fund the construction of the bridge.

John A. Roebling presented a report to the New York Bridge Company on September 1, 1867, expressing his vision for the Brooklyn Bridge and its significance as a national monument and engineering marvel.

In March 1869, John Augustus Roebling organized a 'Bridge Party' where engineers and members of U.S. Congress were invited to view his previous engineering projects, aiming to reassure critics and showcase his expertise.

In June 1869, John Augustus Roebling suffered a crush injury to his foot during surveys for the bridge, leading to his incapacitation and eventual death. His son, Washington Roebling, then assumed the role of chief engineer for the project.

The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge commences, and it is projected to become the longest suspension bridge globally upon its completion in thirteen years.

Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge started with the building of two caissons for the suspension towers. The first caisson was constructed on the Brooklyn side at the Webb & Bell shipyard in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

The caisson built on the Brooklyn side was launched into the river on March 19, 1870. Workers entered the caisson to dig sediment until it reached the bedrock.

The Brooklyn Bridge opened nearly 140 years ago and has undergone various changes over the years, including the replacement of horses and carriages with cable cars, a thoroughfare for cars, and a bike lane. The bridge also led to the transformation of 85 acres of industrial space into Brooklyn Bridge Park.

On March 6, 1871, repairs on the Brooklyn caisson were finished, and it reached its final depth of 44.5 feet. The caisson was filled with concrete five days later.

The caisson on the Manhattan side was launched on May 11, 1871, and was lined with fireproof plate iron to prevent fires. Many workers suffered from decompression sickness due to the high underwater air pressure.

In July 1872, the Manhattan caisson was filled with concrete after reaching a depth of 78.5 feet. Washington Roebling halted construction due to the increased risk of decompression sickness.

Construction on the suspension towers of the Brooklyn Bridge started in mid-1872. By late 1872, parts of each tower had already been built, and by mid-1873, substantial progress had been made on the towers' construction.

The arches of the Brooklyn tower of the Brooklyn Bridge were completed by August 1874.

The last stone on the Brooklyn tower of the Brooklyn Bridge was raised in June 1875.

The Brooklyn anchorage of the Brooklyn Bridge was substantially completed in August 1875.

The first temporary wire was stretched between the towers of the Brooklyn Bridge on August 15, 1876, using chrome steel provided by the Chrome Steel Company of Brooklyn.

The first experimental wire for the main cables of the Brooklyn Bridge was stretched between the towers on May 29, 1877, marking the beginning of the spinning process for the cables.

On October 5, 1878, the last of the main cables' wires for the Brooklyn Bridge were placed over the river, marking a crucial milestone in the construction process.

In March 1879, construction on the superstructure of the Brooklyn Bridge started, with workers erecting steel crossbeams to support the roadway as part of the bridge's overall superstructure.

By February 1880, the steel deliveries for the Brooklyn Bridge's superstructure had not yet started, causing delays in the construction process.

By November 1881, the steel deliveries for the Brooklyn Bridge's superstructure had still not been completed, leading to concerns and investigations regarding the delays.

Washington Roebling failed to appear at the trustees' meeting in June 1882, causing controversy among the trustees regarding his role as chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge.

In August 1882, Henry C. Murphy presented a report on the progress of the Brooklyn Bridge construction, detailing the erection of intermediate cords, diagonal stays, posts, floor beams, and other structural elements.

The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, supervised by Washington Roebling, was completed after thirteen years and more than $15 million, which was three times longer and twice as expensive as anticipated.

The Brooklyn Bridge, spanning the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn, was officially opened on May 24, 1883. It was the first fixed crossing of the East River and the longest suspension bridge in the world at that time.

Six days after the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge, a woman falling down a stairway at the Brooklyn approach caused a stampede, resulting in at least twelve people being crushed and killed.

President Arthur and Governor Cleveland personally congratulated Washington Roebling on the day of the Brooklyn Bridge opening celebration.

Public transit service began with the opening of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge Railway, a cable car service, on September 25, 1883.

On May 17, 1884, P. T. Barnum led 21 elephants over the Brooklyn Bridge to prove its stability.

Robert Emmet Odlum became the first person to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge on May 19, 1885. Unfortunately, he struck the water at an angle and died shortly afterwards.

Steve Brodie supposedly dropped from underneath the Brooklyn Bridge in July 1886, although there is doubt about the authenticity of the jump.

The Lexington Avenue elevated railroad begins operating across the Brooklyn Bridge, connecting Brooklyn to New York City by rail, leading to a growth in population.

Francis McCarey became the first person to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge with the intention of suicide in 1892.

In 1895, a plan for trolley service across the Brooklyn Bridge was presented, leading to the eventual introduction of trolley service in 1898.

After the unification of New York and Brooklyn in 1898, the New York and Brooklyn Bridge Railway ceased to exist as a separate entity in June of that year. The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT) took over control of the line.

In 1901, con man William McCloundy was sentenced to prison for selling the Brooklyn Bridge to a tourist. This incident highlighted the iconic status and recognition of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Due to increased patronage following the opening of the IRT's first subway line, the Park Row station was rebuilt in 1906 to accommodate the growing number of passengers.

After the opening of the IRT's Joralemon Street Tunnel and the Williamsburg Bridge tracks in 1908, the Brooklyn Bridge lost its monopoly on rail service between Manhattan and Brooklyn, leading to the cessation of cable service.

An Engineering Magazine article in 1909 highlighted the challenges faced by the Brooklyn Bridge, including fluctuations in height due to temperature and traffic loads. The design of the bridge had to account for these factors.

Tolls on all four bridges across the East River, including the Brooklyn Bridge, were abolished in July 1911 as part of a populist policy initiative.

In 1913, the overpass across William Street was closed to make way for a proposed connection for Brooklyn Bridge elevated trains to run underground to Manhattan, which was ultimately never opened.

The city government passed a bill in January 1915 to officially name the structure the 'Brooklyn Bridge'.

In July 1922, Grover Whalen banned motor vehicles from the Brooklyn Bridge ostensibly to reduce traffic on nearby city streets, following an incident where two cables slipped due to high traffic loads.

The overpass across William Street was reopened in 1929 after it became evident that the proposed connection for Brooklyn Bridge elevated trains to run underground to Manhattan would not be built.

In 1930, American Modernist poet Hart Crane published 'The Bridge', where he used the Brooklyn Bridge as a central metaphor and organizing structure for his second book of poetry.

The 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1933 included an airplane show, ships, fireworks, and a banquet. It was a grand ceremony commemorating the bridge's half-century mark.

With the withdrawal of Myrtle Avenue services in 1944, the elevated tracks on the Brooklyn Bridge were permanently abandoned, marking the end of an era for rail services on the bridge.

Starting in November 1946, the Manhattan-bound roadway of the Brooklyn Bridge carried Brooklyn-bound traffic during evening rush hours as an experiment. The experiment was ended after two months due to complaints about congestion.

In 1948, the first major upgrade to the Brooklyn Bridge began with a contract awarded to David B. Steinman for redesigning the roadways. The renovation aimed to double the capacity of the bridge's roadways to nearly 6,000 cars per hour.

On March 5, 1950, streetcar service on the Brooklyn Bridge was discontinued, and the bridge was redesigned exclusively for automobile traffic.

The widened south roadway of the Brooklyn Bridge was completed in May 1951 as part of the renovation project to increase the bridge's capacity.

In October 1953, the north roadway of the Brooklyn Bridge was completed as part of the renovation project to widen the bridge's roadways.

The restoration of the Brooklyn Bridge was finished in May 1954 with the completion of the reconstructed elevated promenade, marking the end of the renovation project.

In June 1954, the segment of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) from Brooklyn Bridge south to Atlantic Avenue opened, providing improved connectivity.

The direct ramp from the northbound Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) to the Manhattan-bound Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1959, enhancing access to the bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge was listed as a National Historic Landmark on January 29, 1964, recognizing its significance in American history and engineering achievements.

The book 'Brooklyn Bridge: Fact and Symbol' by Alan Trachtenberg was published in 1965. It explores the historical and symbolic significance of the Brooklyn Bridge.

In 1967, the Brooklyn Bridge and multiple Manhattan and Brooklyn lots comprising the approaches were designated as NYC Landmarks, preserving their historical and architectural significance.

In 1969, additional approach ramps to the FDR Drive were opened to traffic, enhancing connectivity and accessibility to the Brooklyn Bridge.

In 1971, a center line was painted on the Brooklyn Bridge promenade to separate cyclists from pedestrians, creating one of the city's first dedicated bike lanes.

In 1972, the Brooklyn Bridge was designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, highlighting its engineering achievements and contributions to civil engineering.

In 1974, heavy vehicles such as vans and buses were banned from the Brooklyn Bridge to prevent further erosion of the concrete roadway, due to the bridge's gradual deterioration.

In 1975, a plaque was installed on the Manhattan side of the pedestrian promenade of the Brooklyn Bridge by the city, indicating the bridge's status as a city landmark.

Artist Jack Bashkow climbed one of the towers for Bridging, a 'media sculpture' by the performance group Art Corporation of America Inc. Seven artists climbed the largest bridges connected to Manhattan to replace violence and fear in mass media for one day, resulting in rush hour traffic disruption, media attention, and arrests.

In 1978, New York magazine discovered a fading inscription on a wall in one of the Brooklyn Bridge vaults that read: 'Who loveth not wine, women and song, he remaineth a fool his whole life long.'

In 1979, police disarmed a stick of dynamite placed under the Brooklyn Bridge, averting a potential disaster.

By 1980, the Brooklyn Bridge was in such dire condition that it faced imminent closure, prompting plans for a major renovation project including cable replacement.

In June 1981, two diagonal stay cables snapped on the Brooklyn Bridge, leading to the death of a pedestrian. This incident prompted an emergency cable repair and accelerated the timetable for the bridge's proposed cable replacement.

During the centennial celebrations of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1983, President Ronald Reagan led a cavalcade of cars across the bridge. A flotilla of ships visited the harbor, parades were held, and a fireworks display by Grucci Fireworks lit up the evening.

In 1986, the Brooklyn Bridge underwent a $153 million rehabilitation project in preparation for its 100th anniversary. As part of this project, the bridge's original suspender cables, installed by J. Lloyd Haigh, were replaced by Bethlehem Steel.

In 1993, high levels of lead were discovered near the Brooklyn Bridge's towers, leading to further emergency repairs to address the issue.

Lebanese-born Rashid Baz opened fire on a van carrying members of the Chabad-Lubavitch Orthodox Jewish Movement on the Brooklyn Bridge on March 1, 1994. The incident resulted in the death of 16-year-old student Ari Halberstam.

In mid-1999, emergency repairs were undertaken on the Brooklyn Bridge after small concrete shards began falling into the East River. This was a result of deteriorating concrete deck installed during the 1950s renovations.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Park Row exit from the Brooklyn Bridge's westbound lanes was closed as a safety measure, as it ran underneath 1 Police Plaza.

In early 2003, the NYCDOT turned off the Brooklyn Bridge's 'necklace lights' to save money on electricity. They were later turned back on after private donations funded the lights.

During transit strikes in 2005, people commuting to work used the Brooklyn Bridge as an alternative means of crossing the East River. Mayors Ed Koch and Michael Bloomberg also crossed the bridge in solidarity with the affected public.

The 125th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge's opening was celebrated with a five-day event in 2008, including a live performance by the Brooklyn Philharmonic, special lighting of the bridge's towers, and a fireworks display. Various cultural and historical events were organized to mark the occasion.

In 2010, the NYCDOT began renovating the Brooklyn Bridge's approaches and deck, including widening approach ramps, seismic retrofitting, and road deck resurfacing.

More than 700 protesters with the Occupy Wall Street movement were arrested while attempting to march across the Brooklyn Bridge on the roadway. Protesters disputed the police account of the events, claiming they were trapped on the bridge by the NYPD. The majority of the arrests were subsequently dismissed.

Two American flags on the flagpoles atop each tower of the Brooklyn Bridge were found to have been replaced by bleached-white American flags. Initially suspected as cannabis activism, two Berlin artists later claimed responsibility for hoisting the white flags to celebrate 'the beauty of public space' and the anniversary of John Roebling's death.

In August 2016, the NYCDOT announced a study to verify if the Brooklyn Bridge could support a heavier upper deck with an expanded bicycle and pedestrian path.

In July 2018, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a renovation of the Brooklyn Bridge's suspension towers and approach ramps.

Starting in September 2019, NYC DOT initiated Contract 7 to enhance the load carrying capacity of arch blocks, strengthen masonry towers, and repair historic brick and granite components on the Brooklyn Bridge. The project is set to continue until 2023.

In early 2020, City Council speaker Corey Johnson and the nonprofit Van Alen Institute hosted an international contest to solicit plans for the redesign of the bridge's walkway.

The new bike path on the Brooklyn Bridge was completed on September 14, 2021.

In mid-2023, the city proposed to ban street vendors from the Brooklyn Bridge and other locations citywide due to overcrowding.

On April 17, 2024, Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge and New York's Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. The protest caused significant traffic disruptions and drew attention to the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict.