The Great East River bridge (The Brooklyn Bridge) connects the cities of New York and Brooklyn

In the winter of 1852, river ice trapped a man and his son on a ferry in New York harbor. John Roebling, a German-born engineer, wondered if he could build a suspension bridge to replace the ferry.

Such bridges had opened to acclaim but later collapsed in Angers, France, Wheeling, West Virginia and Wales. But Roebling had already build suspension bridges in Pittsburgh and Niagara Falls.

He dreamed of two towers, more than 275 feet high, connected by cables 1600 feet long. He sold his dream to politicians and the public. Currier&Ives published an artist's rendering.

Roebling contracted tetanus from an accident aboard a ferry and died before construction began. His son took over and completed the project.

Medim : 1 print : lithograph, hand-colored

Created/Published : New York : Published by Currier & Ives, c1872.

Creator : Currier & Ives

Part of the Currier & Ives collection housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 weeks.

Product #: grearibr