About the Anchorage

Art in the Anchorage offers annual public access to one of New York's most spectacular and evocative landmark structures. Visitors to the soaring cathedral-like chambers have compared the vaults to Piranesi's "Carceri," to catacombs, and to the austere intimacy of a monastery. These arched spaces, framed by the piers which support the bridge, are a series of eight barrel-vaulted masonry and brick halls with ceilings nearly 50 feet high.

John Roebling, the bridge's engineer, envisioned this space as a double-tiered commercial arcade, or vault for the national treasury. In actuality, the spaces were used for an open air farmers' market, children's playground and then were walled off from the street as a WPA project in the 1930s. They were used for municipal storage until 1983 when the Borough of Brooklyn invited Creative Time to mount an exhibition in conjunction with the Brooklyn Bridge Centennial activities.


DIRECTIONS

The Brooklyn Bridge Anchorage is located inside the base of the Brooklyn Bridge at Cadman Plaza West at the intersection of Hicks Street and Old Fulton Street in Brooklyn. Take the 2 or 3 train to Clark Street or the A or C train to High Street. Walk down Cadman Plaza West toward the river under the BQE overpass, the Anchorage entrance is to the right.



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