Just one of the structures in the city of New York to be considered a symbol of the strength, creativity and optimism is the Brooklyn Bridge. Not only was it the first bridge of its kind, it was longer, when it was completed in 1883, than any other in the world. It doubled the length of those previously built. This remarkable creation, the suspension bridge that is now one of the oldest one still being used today. At the time, the builders of the bridge were not extremely certain in their knowledge, and the capabilities of the technology. They were required to just believe that they could accomplish such a marvel, they just needed to have faith.

It is stated that the builders of the bridge were a father and son team, John and Washington Roebling. And while these two builders did begin the construction in 1870, they were both not capable of seeing the project through the thirteen years it would take to build it. John Roebling was paralyzed during the beginning phases of the bridge, having suffered an accident wherein materials collapsed and crushed his legs, which then led to his death due to an infection. His son, Washington took over the construction, however he had been and underwater construction worker and suffered a disease of decompression, this affected many divers that worked on the project. Washington’s wife, Emily studied mathematics and curve calculations. She learned of the different materials, their strengths and necessary knowledge of such intricate cable work. For the next eleven years, she supervised the construction site and was there the day of the grand opening, being the first one to walk across it. It was a day of great celebrations, with people attending parties and concerts at the Manhattan business hotels, the Brooklyn restaurants, and in private homes.

The building of the bridge continues to inspire people to this day. PBS and the BBC have both made documentaries. Many poets and authors have written of the bridge, paying tribute to it as though it was a living being, a source of inspiration then, and certainly that same source of inspiration to anyone walking across it today.

Related posts:

  1. Brooklyn, New York’s Maurice Sendak & “Where the Wild Things Are”
  2. Renovation in the Heart of the Bronx
  3. Royal Shakespeare Company and The Globe Theatre in London

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