Thursday the Brooklyn Bridge turned 125 years-old and its existence was celebrated with the start of a big five-day birthday party. Yesterday’s event included fireworks, a birthday cake in the shape of a bridge, a Navy flyover, a brand new lighting formation and a musical tribute.

The landmark took 13 years to built, cost $15 million and was designed by John Roebling. It measures 6,000 feet and during its construction, many workers lost their lives, including its designer. It opened on May 24, 1883 and it is one of the country’s oldest bridges and also one of the most treasured.

The celebration included a musical performance by the Brooklyn Philharmonic and composer Marvin Hamlisch and the ever present birthday-fireworks.

Ron Schweiger, Brooklyn’s official historian, was quoted by the Associated Press saying that the bridge is not only a landmark for New York but also for America.

The bridge is crossed each day by about 126,000 cars and also many cyclists and pedestrians.

Due to the recent inspections which ranked the bridge’s safety as poor, the city plans to invest close to $300 million over the next few years for fixing the ramps and for painting the bridge.

For the next few days, New York City officials have prepared a series of activities which will include an outdoor film marathon at Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, lectures, dances, performances, information tents and walking tours of the bridge.