The bridge opened on May 24, 1883. It was first called the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, and got its current name in 1915. At opening it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, with a main span of 1,595.5 feet.
John A. Roebling designed it but died in 1869, before work began. His son Washington Roebling took over as chief engineer. Washington became too ill to visit the site, and his wife, Emily Warren Roebling, helped supervise the work for about 11 years.
Six days after opening, a stampede on the walkway killed at least twelve people. On May 17, 1884, P. T. Barnum led 21 elephants across to show the bridge was safe.