1894 - 40.000 people cross this bridge every single day. The Tower Bridge. It is a combined bascule and suspension bridge. Its construction started in 1886 and finished on this day in 1894. This massive bridge is now a major tourist attraction in London but what was the reason for constructing this bridge in the first place?
In the 19th century an advertisement let to the construction of a new bridge. The bridge couldn't have a regular design because it would cut off the ships that tried to access the port facilities at the Pool of London. Over 50 designs were sent in during a design contest and in the end the design of sir Horace Jones, who was also one of the judges (!), was chosen as the winner.
A common misconception about the London Tower Bridge is that it's called the London bridge. This isn't actually true. The London bridge is further down the river and is much less of a sightseeing spectacle than the Tower Bridge. The Tower Bridge has got its name from The London Tower which is located on one side of the bridge.
In 1912, pilot Frank McClean had to fly in between the bascules and the walkway to avoid a crash during an emergency. And in 1952, a bus driver named Albert Gunton made an incredible jump across the rising bascules of the bridge to avoid a horrible accident.