The Roebling Family
The story of the Roebling family—John (1806-1869), Washington (1837-1926), and Emily Warren (1843-1903)—is one of bravery, heroism, and triumph over great obstacles. Without them, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge might have been built.
John Roebling, a pioneer in wire rope bridge supports, developed the modern suspension bridge and is responsible for the design and construction of numerous spans throughout the United States. He began work on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1867, but died in an accident at the site. His son, Washington, who joined the project earlier, took charge as chief engineer.
In 1870, fire broke out in one of the caissons and Washington directed the efforts to extinguish the flames. During the rescue he contracted decompression sickness (“the bends”), which rendered him bedridden.
As the only person to visit her husband during his sickness, Emily relayed information to the project team. She developed an extensive knowledge of stress analysis, cable construction, and advanced mathematics, and assumed much of the chief engineer’s duties, including day-to-day supervision and project management. The Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883.
