Home of the Brave
During the American Civil War, citizens placed flowers on the graves of those killed in battle, a ritual that became known as Decoration Day. After World War I, as the day came to honor those who died in all U.S. wars, its name was changed to Memorial Day. The day is observed with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, and by religious services, speeches, and parades. The day also signals the unofficial start of summer, as grills are fired up in backyards across the country.
What Is the Origin of Memorial Day?
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Memorial Day: Remembering the Fallen
Elizabeth Fraser—U.S. Army photo/Arlington National Cemetery
The Science Behind the Perfect Barbecue
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Elephants in Brooklyn
This weekend marks the anniversary of the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883. A brilliant feat of 19th-century engineering, the bridge is an essential New York City landmark, and an architectural accomplishment still revered across the world. Yet, when it opened, many New Yorkers didn’t trust it—leading to a creative solution to inspire confidence.
Troubled waters
Brooklyn Bridge was the masterwork of John Augustus Roebling, who died early in the bridge’s construction as a result of an accident on site. His son, Washington, then suffered a crippling case of decompression sickness after taking over as chief engineer. Confined to his apartment, Roebling continued to direct operations with the help of his wife, Emily Warren Roebling. Construction was also marred by a compressed-air blast that ruined a pneumatic caisson; a cable that came loose and crashed into the East River; and fraud perpetuated by a steel-wire contractor that necessitated the replacement of tons of cable. At least 20 workers were killed during construction.
Shaken nerves
New Yorkers came to fear the bridge both for its bad news and for its innovation—it was the longest suspension bridge in the world upon completion, and the first to use steel for cable wire.
Enter Barnum
City officials, desperate to reassure the public, reached out to celebrated showman P.T. Barnum to march a parade of 21 elephants and 17 camels across the bridge, proving that it was sturdy. The public eagerly watched Barnum’s parade on May 17, 1883, and public fears soon dissipated. The bridge’s official opening day a week later (depicted below) was marked by great fanfare—and many sighs of relief.
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (digital file no. 3b51126)
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