Sixth graders recreated iconic bridges that reflected five pivotal moments in American history:
The Old North Bridge - American Revolution
Stone Bridge at Manassas - Civil War
Brooklyn Bridge - European Immigration
Overseas Highway Bridge - Second Industrial Revolution
Edmund Pettus Bridge - Civil Rights Movement
Sixth graders took this image of the Brooklyn Bridge and slowly transformed it into our Lego Brooklyn Bridge!
The Significance |
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- Old North Bridge (Concord, Massachusetts): This bridge is significant in American history due to its role in the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. These battles were the start of the American Revolutionary War. The British troops were confronted at Old North Bridge by American militia, marking the first day of open armed conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen colonies. The phrase "shot heard 'round the world" originates from the battle at this bridge, symbolizing the significance of these events in world history.
- Stone Bridge at Manassas (Virginia): The Stone Bridge is an iconic structure associated with the First Battle of Bull Run (also known as the First Battle of Manassas) during the American Civil War in 1861. The bridge played a crucial role in Union Army's retreat, making it a significant turning point in the battle. The event marked the beginning of a prolonged and brutal war between the North and South, showing the people that the war wouldn't be won easily or quickly.
- Edmund Pettus Bridge (Selma, Alabama): This bridge is a symbol of the American civil rights movement. It was the site of "Bloody Sunday" on March 7, 1965, when armed policemen attacked civil rights demonstrators with billy clubs and tear gas as they were attempting to march to the state capital, Montgomery. The national outcry over the brutality against peaceful protesters helped expedite the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark in dismantling legal segregation and discrimination.
- Brooklyn Bridge (New York City): Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was a feat of engineering and remains one of the most famous and magnificent landmarks in New York City. As one of the oldest roadway bridges in the United States and the world's first steel-wire suspension bridge, its completion symbolized the unity of the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn in a time of rapid growth and urbanization. It represented a new era of urban development and modern architecture, fostering further economic growth and cultural diversity in the city.
- Overseas Highway Bridge (Florida Keys): Also known as the Seven Mile Bridge, it's a part of U.S. Route 1 and connects Knight's Key (part of the city of Marathon in the Middle Keys) to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys. Among the longest bridges in existence when it was built, it's a symbol of human ingenuity and the development of the Florida Keys. The completion of the bridge allowed for more reliable transportation between the mainland and Key West, bolstering the Keys' development and transforming it into a major tourist destination. The bridges along the Overseas Highway, including the Seven Mile Bridge, also represent the evolution of transportation infrastructure in the U.S. during the 20th century.
