Brooklyn’s Famous Photo Spot Before the Crowds (1908)
Brooklyn’s Famous Photo Spot Before the Crowds (1908)
In 1908, the Manhattan Bridge was still being built above Washington Street. Today, the same view draws crowds with their phones and cameras.
The story behind the scene
Construction began in 1901, and the bridge opened on 31 December 1909. It gave traffic another route between Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Eugene de Salignac photographed the work in 1908. The tower already dominated the street, but the crossing was not yet complete.
The warehouses lining Washington Street help explain the scale of the project. The bridge was built through an established industrial neighbourhood, with people living and working close to the construction.
What you’re seeing
The unfinished tower rises between the buildings in the older photograph. The newer view follows the same street towards the completed bridge. The buildings still frame the tower, although the street is now a familiar stop for visitors.
Why this photo matters
The older photograph records the construction behind a view that can now feel permanent. The tower was once a new and disruptive addition to an already busy neighbourhood.
Historical photograph: Eugene de Salignac, 1908. Modern photograph: Devyn Tapia.
Sources: Brooklyn Public Library; NYC Department of Transportation