Can you believe we’ve been spelling Verrazzano wrong the whole time?
Well, kinda. The bridge was named for explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano who discovered New York Harbor in 1524. Some say the incorrect spelling was a typo. Others say one “z” is the American version of his name. A Brooklyn student petitioned to have the name changed, but was unsuccessful.
Whoopi Goldberg adopted a cat thrown from the bridge.
Back in 2011, a kitten was thrown from a moving car on the 4260 foot bridge. Luckily someone who worked for New York Animal Care & Control saw the cat and rescued it. The cute kitty made an appearance on The View and Whoopi fell in love. His name is Verrazano, they call him Vinny for short.
The Verrazano Bridge is a movie star, having starred in many films.
You might recognize her in Brooklynite Woody Allen’s classic film Annie Hall, The Avengers or Requiem for a Dream written by Brooklynite Hubert Selby Jr.
Saturday Night Fever made John Travolta and the Verrazano stars.
The bridge played a central part in the film. It symbolized the path to a better life, although we can’t imagine why anyone would leave Brooklyn!
However, nobody is buried in the foundation like they claimed in the movie.
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge once displayed the largest United States flag in the World.
On June 28, 1976, the largest American flag at the time was placed on the bridge to celebrate the Bicentennial. Sadly, the wind got the best of the flag and it only lasted long enough for this photo op. The flag was almost as long as two football fields!
