The Famous Bridges You Can See During a New York Harbor Cruise
New York City is primarily popular due to its bridges rather than its towers. Also, many people view it in a unique light when they observe various New York City bridges from the boat deck.
The city’s great bridges are colossal works of engineering. In fact, they have brought boroughs together and shaped the cityscape for centuries. Moreover, they have a compelling story to tell of ingenuity and determination.
Read on to get a better idea of the famous New York City bridges that you must see when you visit for a harbor cruise in New York.
Famous New York City Bridges to See During a Harbor Cruise
From the Gothic arches of the Brooklyn Bridge to the classy suspension of the Verrazzano-Narrows, with a cruise in New York, you will be able to see these architectural giants at their best. Apart from that, you will also get to know about these breathtaking vistas. Moreover, you will have a deeper appreciation of these maritime heritages.
The following are the most famous New York City Bridges that you must absolutely check out when you are on a harbor cruise:
1. The Brooklyn Bridge: An American Icon
No building masterpiece of New York is more symbolic of the city than the Brooklyn Bridge. Completed in 1883, this neo-Gothic marvel is a testament to human ingenuity and perseverance.
From the river, visitors can admire the bridge’s iconic granite towers and the elegant sweep of its steel cables. Basically, its history is as compelling as its silhouette. For instance, the construction took 14 years and cost several lives. In fact, its first architect, John Augustus Roebling, died during its construction.
Meanwhile, Roebling’s son, Washington, and daughter-in-law Emily completed the project. By the end, they constructed what was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time. Apart from that, this bridge remains a testament to American ingenuity to this day.
2. Manhattan Bridge: The Workhorse Neighbor
Plainer than plain to see just upstream of the Brooklyn Bridge is its often underappreciated neighbor, the Manhattan Bridge. Commissioned in 1909, this suspension bridge is a very different sight. This is because its steel is painted blue and large, and has an arch entrance frieze sculpture.
A boat tour is the most enjoyable way to take in the bridge’s narrow towers and Leon Moisseiff-designed suspension system.
The Manhattan Bridge carries subway trains that shuttle borough to borough, and from the river, lucky onlookers may catch a glimpse of the Q train running across the East River, adding a dynamic touch to the already breathtaking profile of the bridge.
3. The Williamsburg Bridge: Industrial Grandeur
North of the Brooklyn Bridge along the East River, the Williamsburg Bridge bridges Manhattan’s Lower East Side and Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood with its industrial bridge. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1903.
Unlike the ornate styles of its predecessors, the Williamsburg Bridge uses exposed steel trusses and signature towers in a more functionalist design. A boat tour reveals the bridge’s enormity—its main span spans 1,600 feet above the waterway, and its roadway carries eight lanes of traffic, two subways, a bike path, and a pedestrian walkway.
4. The Queensboro Bridge: A Cantilever Classic
The Queensboro Bridge is also known as the 59th Street Bridge. However, its official name is the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge.
Basically, this singular double-deck cantilever bridge has crossed Manhattan and Queens since 1909. Moreover, it is legendary due to Simon & Garfunkel’s “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).” Also, this bridge represents a singular engineering answer to its suspension relatives.
Seen from the water, riders appreciate its singular outline with five spans balancing on colossal stone piers. Apart from that, the steel latticework has a silver paint, and the bridge shapes geometric forms in the sky. Hence, photographers often photograph it along with the city’s eastern skyline.
5. The Verrazzano-Narrows: Gateway to New York Harbor
The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which connects Brooklyn to Staten Island, is a wordless gateway to New York Harbor. Completed in 1964, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world and remains the longest in the Americas.
Meanwhile, it is named for the first European to navigate into New York Harbor, the Italian navigator. In addition to that, this double-deck bridge curves over the Narrows in grandeur.
A boat trip under its massive span offers one of the city’s most exciting bridge rides. This is because the giant towers shoot up 693 feet out of the water.
Every year, the bridge is the site from which the New York City Marathon begins, but from the water, it becomes apparent that the bridge’s grandeur is of a different caliber.
6. The George Washington Bridge: The Hudson’s Colossus
The George Washington Bridge towers over the Hudson River connecting Manhattan to Fort Lee, New Jersey. One of the world’s busiest bridges, its unique towers are visible from miles around and are especially a sight to see at night when lit.
Originally meant to be covered in stone, budget limitations of the Great Depression left the steel frame exposed—a decision that ultimately created one of the city’s most recognizable silhouettes. Traveling from a riverboat on the Hudson, passengers can appreciate both the colossal size and serene simplicity of the bridge.
7. Hell Gate Bridge: The Crimson Railway Span
Less well-known but architecturally important, the Hell Gate Bridge spans railroad traffic across the perilous waters where the Harlem River converges with the East River. Painted a rich crimson red and having a dramatic arch shape, it provides an eye-catching sight against the background of the sky.
Upon opening in 1916, it was the longest steel arch bridge in the world. A boat tour of this northeastern stretch of the East River offers views of this engineering marvel that inspired the design of Australia’s legendary Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The Ideal Point of View: Choosing Your Boat Tour
The following are a few things you must keep in mind before you choose your boat tour:
- Numerous New York boat tours are suitable for every kind of taste and time constraint.
- Luxurious yacht tours with an architectural eye by Classic Harbor Line.
- Well-rounded tours around Manhattan by Circle Line boat tours.
- East River Ferry offers mass transit sensibilities blended with breathtaking views of the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges.
- Sunset during an illuminating light sky in late summer cruises offers a special attraction.
- These evening tours constitute a photographer’s haven and a romantic scene for both locals and tourists.
Plan Your Itinerary Now
The city that never sleeps is constantly changing. Despite that, the New York City Bridges remain lasting testaments to vision and engineering ingenuity. Seen from the water, these bridges display their entire majesty, linking not only landmasses but also the past and present of this great metropolis.
A boat tour of New York City Bridges delivers more than merely great views. In fact, it is a floating tour of the city’s history, ambition, and architectural triumph.
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