How They Built the World’s Most Famous Landmarks

The story of the Brooklyn Bridge is a family saga of tragedy and triumph. Construction began in 1869, but its designer, John Roebling, died from an accident before it even started. His son, Washington Roebling, took over but was crippled by decompression sickness. For over a decade, he supervised the bridge’s progress from his apartment window. His wife, Emily Warren Roebling, relayed his instructions to the workers, becoming the de facto field engineer. It finally opened in 1883.