Emily Roebling's husband was the chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge, but when he fell ill soon after construction began, Emily spent over a decade working as his liaison, supervising the site, and ensuring that the structure was built to his specifications.

Emily Roebling was the first person to cross the Brooklyn Bridge after its completion in 1883. This wasn’t by chance, however.

Her husband, Washington Roebling, was the chief engineer during the construction of the bridge, but he fell ill from decompression sickness just a couple of years into the project. So, despite having no formal training as an engineer, Emily took the reins.

For over a decade, Emily Roebling acted as a liaison between her husband and the construction site, passing instructions to workers, asking questions, s

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