On 24 May 1883 (Queen Victoria’s birthday), President Chester A. Arthur and New York Mayor Franklin Edson opened the Brooklyn Bridge by crossing over it and meeting Seth Low, the Brooklyn Mayor, beside the tower on the Brooklyn side of the bridge – the three men then shook hands and declared the bridge open.

To mark this historic day, here are four newpaper stories from May 1883 that report on the opening of the famous bridge.

Tamworth Herald – Saturday 26 May 1883

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000484/18830526/048/0008

Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser – Saturday 26 May 1883

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000206/18830526/073/0011

London Standard – Saturday 26 May 1883

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000183/18830526/035/0005

The Ipswich Journal – Saturday 26 May 1883

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000071/18830526/021/0008