Today in History: The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge Opened 47 Years Ago
Mon, Nov 21, 2011
By Xin Hui Lim
On November 21, 1964, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge that connects Brooklyn and Staten Island opened. With a 4,260-foot-center span between two 693-foot towers, it surpassed San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge as the world’s largest suspension bridge, and held on to this title until 1981, when the Humber Bridge in the United Kingdom opened. Named after Giovanni da Verrazano, the first European explorer to sail into New York Harbor in 1524, the bridge is best known as the starting point of the New York City Marathon.
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opened on November 21, 1964. (Photo/MTA)
The New York Times raised an interesting question today: Although the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge remains as the longest suspension bridge in the United States, the Brooklyn Bridge continues to be the more famous icon of New York City. Similarly, most people associate San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge instead of the Bay Bridge, which is four times longer.
What do you think is the reason?
who was the verozzono bridge named after
it was named after giovanni de verrazano.