In the 19 th century, Manhattan and Brooklyn were the first and third largest cities in the United States, separated only by the East River, which varied in width along its length. Part 1 starts with the earliest plans for a bridge and runs up to John Roebling’s death in 1869 before the onset of construction. Don Sayenga’s book, Washington Roebling’s Father, also clarified which Roebling, John or Washington, built the Bridge. As a result of David McCullough’s book The Great Bridge and Ken Burns’ American Stories – Brooklyn Bridge series, many engineers know some of the backstories of the bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge, across the East River in New York City, is perhaps the most recognized bridge in the United States.
