On this episode of Our American Stories, The Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 and quickly became one of the most remarkable engineering achievements in the world. Spanning the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn, it created a lasting connection between two rapidly growing communities.

But the bridge’s story is also the story of a family. After its designer, John Roebling, died during construction, his son Washington took over as chief engineer, only to be left bedridden by illness. From there, his wife Emily stepped in, helping oversee the project and carry it through to completion. The History Guy joins us to share the story of one of America’s greatest modern marvels and the people who made it possible.

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