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Most people will know Brooklyn’s famous bridge that stretches over the East River and leads to Manhattan. It is not only a beautiful bridge with its 80-meter (262 feet) high granite pillars, but it also symbolizes transatlantic relations and how many immigrants from around the world are anchored into New York City’s history. Did you know that a German engineer from Thuringia designed the fascinating structure that is celebrating its 141st anniversary this year?
Johann (John) Roebling immigrated to the United States in 1831 as a young engineer from the German state of Thuringia and soon specialized in building bridges. He made a name for himself by designing and constructing the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge, a double-story bridge completed in 1855.
After being stuck in ice on a ferry crossing the East River, Roebling was inspired to build a state-of-the-art bridge connecting Brooklyn to Manhattan and began with his design. Unfortunately, he didn’t live to experience its completion, as he smashed his foot during survey work and died of lockjaw.
His son Washington carried on his work and experimented with a new technique of utilizing pressure chambers. He then became victim of diving sickness and remained paralyzed, as many others of the time, when exploring the riverbed and could only observe the construction with binoculars from his apartment in Brooklyn.
From father to son to daughter-in-law development and construction of the bridge went on. Emily, Washington’s wife, was not an engineer, but had political zeal and the power of persuasion to keep the curatorium responsible for the construction in a positive and generous mood. She also oversaw daily construction progress and reported back to her paralyzed husband. Over 600 workers were involved in the construction, 6,740 tons of material were used at a cost of 15 million dollars, a mighty sum of the time.
Emily Warren Roebling became the first person to cross the bridge in a horse-drawn carriage in May 1883, fourteen years after construction start. The long suspension bridge was the first of its kind and was soon declared as the Eighth Wonder of the World.
Shortly after its completion, crowds flocked to the bridge on Memorial Day and a woman got stuck in one of the planks with the heel of her shoes. Her screams led to a mass panic, as people thought that the bridge was collapsing, and ended with many injured and 12 people being trampled to death.
In an effort to calm the terrified populace, city officials used an unusual and creative way to regain trust. A circus director led his 21 heavy elephants and 17 camels over the bridge on a leisure walk to Manhattan, convincing New Yorker’s that the bridge would hold. Originally built for carriages and pedestrians, it has remained steadfast and been a highlight in New York City for well over a century. It has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
The bridge is 486 meters (1,593 feet) long, has four neogothic pillars of granite and four cable strings of galvanized steel, each 40 centimeters (1.3 feet) thick, to support the splendid structure. About 30,000 pedestrians traverse the bridge on the upper floor with a spectacular view of Manhattan’s skyline daily, with 100,000 vehicles and up to 3,000 bicycles rolling underneath. The 80-meter-high pillars are taller than any church tower in the city, it is one of the few bridges that can be crossed on foot and will always be a jewel on New York City’s crown. The pillars were recently also equipped with LED lights giving the whole bridge a majestic glow.
