Bridges, Bridges
April 29, 2010

The Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge

 http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/images/0000/0871/Brooklyn_bridge_during_snowstorm_at_sunset.jpg

I just put up an article about the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in the late 19th century.  It's an extremely interesting story, particularly because the bridge was completed basically by hand and on a scale that had never been done before.

The construction took 14 years and killed the main architect, John Roebling a month after it had begun. A case of the benz crippled his son Washington after he had taken over the project, while spending too much time underwater overseeing the construction of the base of the bridge.  Washington completed the project despite not being able to leave his house for the last 11 years of the construction, only able to view the bridge from his bedroom window and using his wife Emily to relay information.  Overall, 27 people died and a couple of major scandals almost derailed the project.

Also in the article are a bunch of historical photos and illustrations of the construction taken from the New York Public Libraries Digital Archives.  A lot of wonderful stuff.

http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=800507&t=w

 

http://www.jamesmaherphotography.com/articles/26-brooklyn-bridge

 


*If you like the photos in this post please help me spread the word by sharing. Thanks.



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