Ursula C. Schwerin and the Brooklyn Bridge

Here’s another historical item from the archives!
In this photo from 1983, CityTech President Ursula C. Schwerin (1978-1988) cuts a cake celebrating the centennial of the Brooklyn Bridge’s completion. Although we may take the convenience for granted, on May 24^th, 1883, the finished bridge connected Manhattan and Brooklyn for the very first time. Begun in 1870 and costing approximately $50 million to complete, this project was actually of international importance. Did you know that the steel-wire suspension system design for the Brooklyn Bridge, pioneered by John Augustus Roebling, would become the defining method for constructing reliable suspension bridges across the world? Prior to the Brooklyn Bridge, suspension bridges were prone collapse and therefore construction had largely stalled.
This May, our beautiful landmark will be 133 years old! If you haven’t taken a stroll there in a while, spare a moment and appreciate just how important this structure is.