Bridging History: Pat Salmon on Staten Island Changes from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge

Bridging History: Pat Salmon on Staten Island Changes from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge Wednesday, July 8th 2026  • 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM With the opening of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in 1964, Staten Island was changed forever. Sewers, schools, roadways, and even the politicians of New York City were not prepared for the onslaught of relocating Brooklyn residents who sought a rural lifestyle. Houses were bought as quickly as they were built. Schools scrambled to find seats for thousands of newly arriving students. The antiquated sewer system of Staten Island could not handle the overload, and there simply wasn’t enough room for all the septic tanks needed. Who were the allies and adversaries of development? Who sought to make a meaningful plan for Staten Island’s future? Author Patricia Salmon examines the preparation, design, and opening of the bridge, as well as how it affected the citizens of Staten Island during the next decade. Register Here!