Bridge Building

The 19th century saw the introduction of elaborate bridges made of iron, which were soon surpassed by bridges made of steel. The development of the suspension bridge, most notably by John Roebling and his son Washington, proved that great rivers could be bridged. The masterpiece of the Roeblings, the Brooklyn Bridge, was hailed as one of the greatest achievements in human history.

The Brooklyn Bridge
New York's Brooklyn Bridge was the greatest engineering achievement of its era when it was finished in 1883. During its 14 years of construction skeptics thought it would collapse, but more than 125 years later, its a beautiful landmark and a very practical conveyance used by thousands of commuters everyday.

The Brooklyn Bridge was a Fascinating Sight While Being Built
Images of New York's famed Brooklyn Bridge fascinated the public while it was still under construction. No structure so large or brilliantly designed had ever been constructed, and the largest bridge on earth was a star even before its roadway was hung from its four massive suspension cables.

Menai Suspension Bridge
The treacherous Menai Strait between Wales and Anglesey was bridged by the brilliant engineer Thomas Telford in the 1820s. His Menai Strait Bridge was an early suspension bridge which used iron chains to support its roadway.

The Brooklyn Bridge
This site at PBS, a companion to the classic Ken Burns documentary on the Brooklyn Bridge, contains an informative timeline about the bridge's construction, clips from the film, and links to other informative resources.

Roebling's Tower Plan
A treasure in the National Archives: John Roebling's plan for the towers of the Brooklyn Bridge, drawn in 1867.

Discuss in my forum

Explore 19th Century History

Must Reads