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Throughout time, bridge-building has been an essential activity for any civilization that had to connect lands previously divided by rivers and canyons. Bridges greatly increase potential for economic progress that improves general living conditions.

Great bridges appeal to our longing for peaceful coexistence, with nature and those around us. The most famous bridges are considered works of art as well as science.

Of American bridges, the most widely known and celebrated are undoubtedly the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, completed in 1883, and the Golden Gate Bridge, connecting San Francisco and Sausilito, completed in 1937. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of books, essays, paintings and films describe these two suspension bridges from different angles.

Though the Brooklyn Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge are worthy of the praise and fame lavished upon them, there are many other outstanding bridges throughout the United States that have been, and continue to be famous for those who have used and seen these amazing structures.

BUILDING AMERICA

Building the hundreds of thousands of bridges that span across the rivers, valleys and canyons of our expansive American landscape required an effort so tremendous as to make one wonder in amazement at how it could have been done, especially in the days before modern construction equipment.

During the 1800s and 1900s, the art and science of bridge engineering and construction was shaped largely by the energetic American economic expansion. Bridges, large and small, were required for railways, roadways and even canals. Most dramatic were the magical suspension bridges, pioneered by John A Roebling, Charles Ellet and others. Many of these bridges failed spectacularly since the "designers" did not really understand the behavioral complexities of this new type of bridge.

BROOKLYN BRIDGE NEW YORK 1883

The Brooklyn Bridge is, without much doubt, the best known and celebrated bridge in the United States. Information about the basic "facts" of this iconic bridge is available from many sources (http://www.endex.com/gf/build ings/bbridge/bbridge.html).

The 1945 book "The Building of the Bridge", by renowned bridge engineer David B Steinman, captures the heroic story of the Roebling family members who designed and managed the very difficult and dangerous construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Noted below is an introduction to are a few not-so-well-known stories about the great bridge and, most importantly, the builders.

The Roeblings (John, son

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