Emily Warren Roebling, Field Engineer

Emily Warren Roebling (1843–1903) played a central role in completing the Brooklyn Bridge, at the time the longest suspension bridge in the world.

The bridge and the bends

John A. Roebling designed the bridge and died in 1869 after an accident during surveying. His son Washington Roebling became chief engineer. Workers sank enormous timber caissons to the riverbed, where compressed air kept water out; returning to the surface too quickly caused decompression sickness, "the bends". Washington was severely affected in 1872 and was largely confined to his home in Brooklyn Heights, watching the work by telescope.

The go-between

Emily became his link to the project. She relayed his instructions to assistant engineers, dealt with contractors and officials, and managed correspondence. To do this she studied engineering subjects including strength of materials, stress analysis, cable construction and catenary curves. Contemporaries recognised her knowledge; some assumed she was the real engineer.

Opening day

When critics tried to remove Washington as chief engineer, Emily addressed engineers and politicians in his defence, and he remained in post. On May 24, 1883, she rode across the completed bridge ahead of the official opening. A plaque on the bridge honours Emily, Washington and John Roebling together.

Why she is in the Hall of Makers

Large structures are built through communication as much as calculation. Construction managers, superintendents and field engineers do what Emily Roebling did: turn design intent into daily instructions that crews can build.

Further reading

David McCullough, The Great Bridge (1972); Marilyn E. Weigold, Silent Builder: Emily Warren Roebling and the Brooklyn Bridge (1984).