The Bowery Boys explore the story and the family behind the Brooklyn Bridge, one of New York’s most treasured landmarks.
Plus: Looking to get really close with the Brooklyn Bridge? Take one of our Brooklyn Bridge Walking Tours, with the Great Great Grandson of Washington and Emily Roebling, Kriss Roebling!
The walkway in 1894….
….and today
John Roebling
Diagram of a sunken caisson:
A few months back here, we took at look at the bridge stampede. For Friday Night Fever we highlighted the Bridge Cafe, whos prior incarnation Hole-in-the-Wall stood witness to the bridge construction. George Washington once lived on the spot occupied by the New York anchorage. On Tuesday, we highlighted Brooklyn mayor Seth Low, who once tried to get Washington Roebling to step down as Chief Engineer.
5 replies on “PODCAST: The Brooklyn Bridge”
Amazing the foresight they had to make it big enough so that it would be operable in present day.
Yay you’re back!!!!
:^D
Don’t know how you do it but you make my day nearly every day. Thanks.
that thing about the sunken caissons has always bothered me a little. the bridge is supported by these enormous stone towers, but the towers don’t stand on rock, they stand on wood, right? i mean, they don’t exactly take the caisson out from under the stone blocks when they’re done digging, do they?
so what happens if the wood rots away? does the bridge settle? evenly? the wood is still down there, isn’t it.
i’m just saying.
great blog. i love you guys. i left ny so long ago, but now it;s as if i’m still there, walking the streets alone at night, looking back into the past.
Excellent question, Andrew. Once the digging was completed, the caissons were filled with cement.