May marks the 124th birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge, and New Yorkers say she couldn't look better.

The bridge opened May 24, 1883 after 13 years of construction. The chief engineer, John Roebling, died before the work started in 1870. His son took over, leading a group of immigrants who couldn't speak English.

"Washington Roebling, who ended up being the principal engineer for the bridge, literally made up a series of illustrations to show people how to do the work," said historian Jack Putnam.

Many Brooklyn residents say they often marvel at the beauty of the landmark and how they are able to walk on top of it via a walkway.

The city's Department of Transportation estimates about 137,000 vehicles travel over the bridge daily.