09/25/2022
When the Brooklyn Bridge was completed after fourteen years of construction, Emily Warren Roebling -- who was born on this day in 1843 -- was the first to cross it by carriage, carrying a live rooster as a sign of victory. Early in its construction, Roebling's husband, the chief engineer in charge of the bridge’s construction, became severely debilitated and bedridden due to decompression sickness. Emily Roebling stepped in to become the first female field engineer in history and supervised the bridge's construction for over ten years until its successful completion. To read the incredible story of the "woman who saved the Brooklyn Bridge, visit https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=25975
For two inspiring picture books telling her story, we highly recommend "How Emily Saved the Bridge" (https://amzn.to/3dLDhI1) and "Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge" (https://www.amightygirl.com/secret-engineer), both for ages 5 to 9
For tweens, Roebling is one of five pioneering women in engineering featured in "Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Engineers" -- which also includes a variety of engineering projects kids can try at home -- for ages 8 to 11 at https://www.amightygirl.com/gutsy-girls-engineers
Roebling is one of the women featured in “Women of Steel and Stone: 22 Inspirational Engineers, Architects, and Landscape Designers” for teens and adults, ages 13 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/women-of-steel-and-stone
For adult readers, Emily Warren Roebling's story is also told in David McCullough's "The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge" at https://amzn.to/3sWpy4J
There is also a fantastic historical fiction novel based on her story for adults: "The Engineer's Wife" at https://www.amightygirl.com/the-engineer-s-wife
For fun ways to inspire the builders of tomorrow, we've showcased our favorite girl-empowering building toys in our blog post: “Building Her Dreams: Top 60 Building and Engineering Toys for Mighty Girls," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=10430
