Beyond the East River: the Roebling Family in the Nineteenth Century

From the forefront of the transportation revolution to the front lines of the Civil War, Beyond the East River examines the family behind the Brooklyn Bridge. Starting with patriarch John Roebling¿s journey from his native Germany to the New World, it analyses his migration and his attitude to the major issues of the day, such as slavery and America¿s ¿Manifest Destiny¿. The study moves on to examine his eldest son, Washington Roebling, who served in the Union army and later inherited the role of Chief Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge. American born but with strong German roots, it investigates this duality and also how he dealt with the corruption associated with the bridge. The final subject is Emily Warren Roebling, Washington¿s wife. The analysis starts with her involvement with the bridge and concludes by examining her later life when she became heavily involved with the women¿s movement. While the main aim of the study is to bring the achievements of this remarkable family to a wider audience, it is also to use their experiences to assist in the understanding of a period during which America underwent major geographical and ideological changes.