The Grand Display of Fireworks and Illuminations at the Opening of the Great Suspension Bridge between New York and Brooklyn on the Evening of May 24, 1883. View from New York Looking towards Brooklyn.
Designed by German-born engineer John Augustus Roebling, the great New York and Brooklyn Bridge was constructed between 1869 and 1883. When opened, it provided the only land connection between Manhattan and Brooklyn. As the print's imprinted text indicates, the central span measures 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m), and is suspended from steel-wire cables slung from stone and concrete towers that stand 276.5 ft (25.9 m) over the water. Opening ceremonies on May 24, 1893 included a crossing by President Chester A. Arthur and New York Mayor Franklin Edson marked by celebratory cannon fire, with the pair greeted at the eastern end by Brooklyn Mayor Seth Low. 1,800 vehicles and 150,300 people crossed on the first day and other festivities included a fireworks display that night, commemorated here.
The New York firm of Currier & Ives grew from a printing business established by Nathaniel Currier (1813–1888) in 1835. Expansion led, in 1857, to a partnership with James Merritt Ives (1824–1895), who was skilled in accounting and the brother-in-law of Nathaniel Currier's brother Charles. The firm operated until 1907, lithographing over 4,000 subjects for distribution across America and Europe with popular categories including landscape, marines, natural history, genre, caricatures, portraits, history and foreign views. Until the 1880s, images were printed in monochrome, then hand-colored by women who worked for the company. In the latter decades of the nineteenth century, as here, Currier & Ives began to print in color.
The New York firm of Currier & Ives grew from a printing business established by Nathaniel Currier (1813–1888) in 1835. Expansion led, in 1857, to a partnership with James Merritt Ives (1824–1895), who was skilled in accounting and the brother-in-law of Nathaniel Currier's brother Charles. The firm operated until 1907, lithographing over 4,000 subjects for distribution across America and Europe with popular categories including landscape, marines, natural history, genre, caricatures, portraits, history and foreign views. Until the 1880s, images were printed in monochrome, then hand-colored by women who worked for the company. In the latter decades of the nineteenth century, as here, Currier & Ives began to print in color.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Grand Display of Fireworks and Illuminations at the Opening of the Great Suspension Bridge between New York and Brooklyn on the Evening of May 24, 1883. View from New York Looking towards Brooklyn.
- Publisher: Currier & Ives (American, active New York, 1857–1907)
- Date: 1883
- Medium: Color lithograph
- Dimensions: Image: 12 in. × 17 1/2 in. (30.5 × 44.5 cm)
Image with text: 14 3/16 × 17 1/2 in. (36 × 44.5 cm)
Sheet: 18 1/8 × 23 1/2 in. (46 × 59.7 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954
- Object Number: 54.90.779
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Currier & Ives
1884
Currier & Ives
1859
Currier & Ives
1857–71
Currier & Ives
1857–71
Currier & Ives
1868–78
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.