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| Stephen's first trip to Brooklyn! |
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| Stephen outside of the Brooklyn Museum |
It was a crisp, sunny day with a nice on shore breeze.
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| Memorial to Dr. Ronald McNair |
Triangled by Eastern Pkway, Washington Ave, and Classon Ave, Dr. Ronald McNair Park is across the street from the museum. Ronald McNair was killed aboard the space shuttle Challenger just after launch in January, 1986. Oddly, he is the only space disaster astronaut to have a memorial in New York City. McNair is not known for any ties to New York and his elaborate tomb is in his home town of Lake City, South Carolina.
This park was originally named Guider Park, for Joseph A. Guider, a Brooklyn Borough president who died in 1926 of appendicitis while in office. Sometime through the
years, Guider's head was stolen. His monument was moved to the south end of the park to make room for McNair. Guider's missing head was replaced by an urn.
The Brooklyn Museum, built in 1895, is NYC's second largest in physical size and holds a collection of approximately 1.5 million works. Initially the museum was designed to be four times as large as its actualized version.
After enjoying the museum, we walked through the now yuppified Crown and Prospect Heights neighborhoods. We continued past the Brooklyn War Memorial, and onto the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge was initially designed by German immigrant John Augustus Roebling, who began it's construction until a boat smashed his toes and three weeks later he died of tetanus. His 32-year-old son, Washington, took over as chief engineer until he was later afflicted with the debilitating symptoms of caisson disease. Washington Roebling was forced to watch from his home in Brooklyn Heights, with a telescope, while his wife Emily took charge of the bridge's final construction.
The Brooklyn Bridge was opened for use on May 24, 1883. The dedication ceremony was presided over by President Chester A. Arthur and New York Governor Grover Cleveland. Emily Roebling was given the first ride over the completed bridge with a rooster, a symbol of victory, in her lap.
With its unprecedented length and two stately towers, the Brooklyn Bridge was dubbed the "eighth wonder of the world". For several years after its construction, it remained the tallest structure in the Western hemisphere. The land connection it provided between the massive population centers
of Brooklyn and Manhattan changed the course of New York City forever. In 1898, the city of Brooklyn formally merged with New York City, Staten Island, and a few farm towns, forming Greater New York. Currently, the bridge
carries six lanes of traffic, three on each outer side of the "lower level", and a pedestrian walkway and a bicycle path down the center, or the "upper level".
"Love locks" is a practice by which a couple
inscribes a date and their names, or initials, attach it to the bridge and throw the key into the East River below. As with trans-fats, large drinks, smoking, etc, "love locks" are also illegal and are occasionally removed by the appropriate authorities.
Magnificent views abound while crossing the Brooklyn Bridge and one can never take too many pictures.
One final note: many naïve tourists are known to have purchased the Brooklyn Bridge!
We completed our bridge crossing, listened to some music in City Hall Park, descended into the subway and returned to our hotel in time to refresh for dinner.
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| American Sycamore trees line the streets around the museum |
This park was originally named Guider Park, for Joseph A. Guider, a Brooklyn Borough president who died in 1926 of appendicitis while in office. Sometime through the
years, Guider's head was stolen. His monument was moved to the south end of the park to make room for McNair. Guider's missing head was replaced by an urn.
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| Stephen in front of Albert Bierstadt's A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie, 1866 |
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| Walter in front of Heat, by Florine Stettheimer, c.1919 |
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| Walter asking The Greek Slave, 1843, by Hiram Powers, if her wrist binds are too tight.
Best known for it's collection of Egyptian antiquities the museum is also notable for it's African, Oceanic, Japanese and American art.
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| Walter thinking he wants to take a nap while viewing The Awakening by Maurice Sterne, 1926 |
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| Walter aghast at John Koch's The Sculptor, 1964 |
After enjoying the museum, we walked through the now yuppified Crown and Prospect Heights neighborhoods. We continued past the Brooklyn War Memorial, and onto the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge was initially designed by German immigrant John Augustus Roebling, who began it's construction until a boat smashed his toes and three weeks later he died of tetanus. His 32-year-old son, Washington, took over as chief engineer until he was later afflicted with the debilitating symptoms of caisson disease. Washington Roebling was forced to watch from his home in Brooklyn Heights, with a telescope, while his wife Emily took charge of the bridge's final construction.
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| From Brooklyn looking toward the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Bldg |
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| Walter passing the Brooklyn War Memorial |
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| The 9/11 Memorial Tower from Brooklyn Heights |
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| Walter crossing the Brooklyn Bridge with a hot, salted pretzel |
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| Stephen leaving Brooklyn |
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| View of Staten Island |
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| The Manhattan Bridge |
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| MetLife and Chrysler Buildings from the bridge |
carries six lanes of traffic, three on each outer side of the "lower level", and a pedestrian walkway and a bicycle path down the center, or the "upper level".
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| Stephen looking toward the Manhattan Bridge |
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| Stephen looking toward the sunset |
"Love locks" is a practice by which a couple
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| "Love Locks" on the bridge |
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| Frank Gehry's wonderful Beekman Tower to the right of the 9/11 Tower |
Magnificent views abound while crossing the Brooklyn Bridge and one can never take too many pictures.
One final note: many naïve tourists are known to have purchased the Brooklyn Bridge!
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| Looking down South Street |
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| The East River meets the Hudson River |
We completed our bridge crossing, listened to some music in City Hall Park, descended into the subway and returned to our hotel in time to refresh for dinner.
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