The Queensboro Bridge, also known as the 59th Street Bridge, recently celebrated its 100th birthday, and big celebration plans are underway.
For years, the bridge has served as a cultural icon and officially became a national monument in 1974.
“People say Queens wouldn’t be Queens without the Queensboro Bridge, but midtown wouldn’t be midtown with out it either,” said Sam Schwartz, president of the New York City Bridge Centennial Commission.
The bridge’s silhouette can be seen in Woody Allen’s movie “Manhattan” and even served as inspiration for a Simon and Garfunkel song “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).”
The commission announced it would host a weeklong celebration from Sunday, May 31 to Saturday, June 6.
“We hope people will salute the borough of Queens and their history,” said Schwartz.
The commission plans include parades, fireworks, walking tours and exhibitions.
The bridge opened for traffic March 30, 1909. The finished product has two levels with nine lanes total, four on the top and five on the bottom. It cost $20 million.
The total length of bridge is 7,450 feet and rests 130 feet above the East River.
It actually made its official debut in June, when city politicians sponsored an official ceremony to celebrate the bridge’s completion.
Schwartz speculates that the politicians at the time put off celebrations probably due to budgeting concerns and chilly March weather.
Trying to remain as authentic as possible, the commission intends to do the same – to wait until June to host the celebration.
Schwartz said they are trying to replicate the era by bringing in cars from the period and having people wear costumes to reflect the style of dress in the early 1900s.
He is especially concerned with finding a way to finance the fireworks display, another event that was held at the opening a century ago.
The commission recently installed a 25-year plan to refurbish and preserve the bridge.
“The people before us built something that lasted for so many generations, yet we abuse out infrastructure,” said Schwartz.
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