Work began on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1869. Roebling himself died of tetanus in 1869 from an injury sustained while surveying the bridge site. His son Washington, also an accomplished engineer, took over direction of the construction after his father’s death. Washington participated in continuous underwater work in "caissons", huge, water-tight containers. Compressed air was forced into the caisson which enabled laborers to build the bridge's foundation. Washington unfortunately became crippled by the bends from working in the caissons and was permanently disabled.

Thanks in great part to Washington's wife, Emily, construction went forward. Emily quickly learned engineering to better oversee the builders and report back to bedridden Washington. In 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge, then known as the "Great East River Bridge," opened to the public. The final cost to build was a little over $15 million, twice the originally projected cost. Twenty-seven men overall died during construction.

But the Brooklyn Bridge was plagued with its share of problems. Before construction even began, the bridge's chief engineer, John A. Roebling, died from tetanus. The project was taken over and seen to its completion by his son, Washington Roebling. Three years later, Roebling developed a crippling illness called caisson's disease, known today as "the bends." Bedridden but determined to stay in charge, Roebling used a telescope to keep watch over the bridge's progress. He dictated instructions to his wife, Emily, who passed on his orders to the workers. During this time, an unexpected blast wrecked one caisson, a fire damaged another, and a cable snapped from its anchorage and crashed into the river.

Despite these problems, construction continued at a feverish pace. By 1883, 14 years after it began, Roebling successfully guided the completion of one of the most famous bridges in the world -- without ever leaving his apartment.

The Brooklyn Bridge, now a National Historic Landmark, is Brooklyn's most beloved tourist attraction as well as the connection between Brooklyn and Manhattan for close to 140,000 vehicles daily.

The Brooklyn Bridge's main span over the East River is 1,595 feet (486 meters) and takes you from Manhattan's civic center into tree-lined Brooklyn Heights.