This is a real life story of engineer John Roebling building the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, USA back in 1870. The bridge was completed in 1883, after 13 years.
In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was also injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to talk or walk.
“We told them so.” “Crazy men and their crazy dreams.” “It’s foolish to chase wild visions.”
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built.
In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task.
As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.
It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.
He touched his wife’s arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man’s indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.
Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.
Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.
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{ 98 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! Absolutely impressive. It’s amazing to accomplish certain things that would be considered impossible by most regardless of the fact that plenty has been done in the light of peer opposition. Humans are capable of achieving success under circumstances that are rougher than we could finitely imagine. I had no idea by looking at the Brooklyn bridge, that it was built through such an amazing and inspiring story. We truly never know what we’re capable of until we endeavor exhibition.
It is a very great achievement …extraordinary.
No words to say anything but everyone should know about this site. It is making me strong and strong
Really it was an amazing story. People who sees this will definitely think of what to do in such sort of situations and will be bold enough with to move ahead with confidence.
Excellent, inspiring mind-blowing story. Thanks for providing such kind of real stories in this site. You are making them open to people. Hope you collect more such live stories in this site.
Inspiring story! When I read this, I felt shamefully weak of almost giving up for not finding a job. I’ll continue…
This is a very inspiring story coz if it were me am sure i would have given up,but thanx 4 this article am sure to be positive at all times
Very very inspirational story. Must read it!!! Really determination and persistence can to us to incredible heights……..all u need is passion and zeal towards any work…….:-)
very close to heart. Great….:)
This is awesome, determination and persistence can defeat any opposition… thanks for the story!
Nice awesome story. Most of us give up soon but here in the story he and his wife never give up, up to 13yrs it was awesome. We all knows this type of story but still many times our problems make us blind and forget this inspirational movement so that to such stories who always work in keeping burning the fire in hearts not to give up at all till u r in world.
This is called a burning desire. Fly. If can’t then run.. if u cant then walk.. if u cant then scroll… but dont stop just move
Mobility is the progress and construction.
Really great !!
You can get nothing without having a desire to achieve..if I didn’t want a glass of water I will never put any efforts towards reaching it..so all you need is a desire. It’s a small word with a big meaning…
A grand salute to John Roebling & his son…and his wife…for the great Job Done…it’s very very interesting fact!!!
It is a very inpirational story to motivate the learner.
Wow ….13 years…. it gives a great deal to think about. I’m using this in a speech competition I’m pretty sure it’s a winner!!!
Nothing is Impossible~ ^ ^
It was great and heart touching story, teaching a lesson, if you have a spirit of doing something you can do it in any way either losing life or gaining the knowledge.
Great Perseverance!
It was a wonderful story for motivating and boosting energy in anyone.
It’s nice.
WOW!!!
This story has filled me with enough strength that from now onwards I will NEVER BACK DOWN in my whole life, no matter what the situation is.
Wonderful story…. True….. Burning desire has devious ways of transmuting itself into its physical reality…. Great example of determination….
No word to say about this amasing story, but someone tells that “success comes from determination,dedication and hardworking” I think that this statement is correct, which is proved by this story.
Great Story, really inspired in our day to day work we will get lot demotivation but still we have to go through work accordingly that require determination and dedication. We face lot of problems but what ever we decide we have to complete then only we will succeed. Only determination will decide either success or failure.
HATS OFF! WHAT A DETERMINATION. WOW. REALLY VERY INSPIRABLE.
I followed the links close to this story in Wikipedia. What was aweinspiring about this was the determination of Emily and the way she studied under his husband’s guidance to complete the bridge.
It is a powerful story. We as human have great capacity to make our dreams come true…
hope can move mountains……
This is one of the best stories I ever read. These courageous and brave people/hero really teach me not to give up but to believe in myself……………..
It is a brilliant day for me today as i noticed this site, it has motivated me in such a way that i’m really charged up.
I have discovered a treasure of knowledge through this site. Yesterday I discovered this site just wonderful stories and real motivation for everyone.
Wow really very good….
WONDERFUL STORY
Amazing story .. The fact that he tapped the hand for 13 years .. Must be hard for everyone in the story ..
Super father and son pair !!!
Amazing story….
great n superb…….
salute to the great family.
Never let ur dream steal, no matter what. Every great achievement requires a great power.
Really superb…
Very nice and inspirational…
Thanks for sharing this kind of real life stories. I am very much impressed.
………superb!!!
I think I came across this story at a very important stage of my life…… thanks for posting!
Very good story, which inspries our engineers to do anything they dream of.
Very nice one. I swear…. will share it with all my friends….
I just read this story for my speech but after reading this story I inspired a lot . The patience which his wife had is really amazing. Engineers always rockzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The most essential factor is persistence – the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come. ~ James Whitcomb Riley.
Simply wow
Wow! I am blown away by the story. It jolts you out of your complacency and inspires you to do something great too. Tribute to John and Washington Roebling. The wife of Washington Roebling needs a special mention for her love and persistence in understanding her husbands coded taps. There is an incredible love and understanding between this two people.
In the fight between wave and rock on seashore, wave always wins… not because of strength but because of persistency. Don’t ever give up until you win… Be the winner.
Wow what a great site you have here. I have a 13 yr. old son who I’m teaching to deal with failures and how to fail means to be closer to victory. How Determination and Persistence can help you achieve all your life goals and most ambitious goals.
I also loved the Determination and Persistence story of John Roebling and his son Washington. It took Washington 13 years tapping out his instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm, until the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge was finally completed.
Wow! It is a great story. Literally fight of a family to fulfill the thing which others thought as impossible. Hats off to Roeblings.
nice inspirational tale……………
Great achievement…where is the will there is the way….
Hang on! Hold on! Hold fast! Persistence is genius.
Persistence and inspiration one should realise by reading this story and also habituate this type of attitude one should learn and useful for others
This strory tells life importance. If a person desires something means he can change the world. Yes everything is possible but it will take time. Great tribute to Washington and his wife and father.
The most essential factor in life is persistence.
People should go on and never loose his ambition of his life……………..
My God, it’s a very good story thanks alot.
Now I know how it was made… =D thanks for the author.
Really, really supereb…………….. very very thanks
Unbelievable….really wonderful. Read it again and again. I am fully charged now.
That’s true…!!!!! We can achieve all our goals if we want. The only point is stay with our dream.
Nice story…
Unfortunaley this story is not true. Good, Inspiring, but not true.
While surveying the site of the Brooklyn tower for the Brooklyn Bridge, the tip of Roebling’s right foot was crushed by a docking boat. After his toes were amputated, Roebling was diagnosed with tetanus and developed lockjaw. He suffered severe seizures and periodically lapsed into a coma before dying in the early morning hours of July 22, 1869 in Brooklyn Heights, New York.
Very nice story.
Extremely inspiring…
This is a touching story…for a moment there I couldn’t help but shed a tear…to know that all through the completion of the project his wife was there with him decoding every single mathematical term. Now that’s a wife…God help us not to let any situation snatch our dream from us…
It’s no need to add any comment and tell, I felt what the author wanted to be felt after reading…
Two thumbs UP!
It’s a great story showing that how we can achieve anything in life if we keep the hope & ignore the negative remarks given by other people. Really self confidence helps overcome any obstacle.
It is an inspiring story and helps me another step towards my goals… thank you.
This story gives me an INSPIRATION. Thank you. Wonderful!
Unbelievable story. Positive thinking & determination leads to SUCCESS.
Salute to both father and son for not give up
This is amazing story, unbelievable and inspirational. Wow I am really touched.
I just couldn’t comprehend and imagine how Washington able to pursue that seemingly impossible dream. I indeed salute his wife and the rest of Washington’s dream in working with a man’s dream….dreams really do come true when coupled with believing and perseverance… I salute you Mr. Washington!
It’s really inspiring. This story reflects the truth that if we have determination and persistance we can achieve any thing in life, even when it is very difficult.
Wonderful!!! It helps a lot.
Wonderful…….
Really inspirational.
What an incredible story, persistance and persevering takes you a long way most but not least believing in yourself and your partner,what a pair of devotional love and believe in one another and what they achieved at the end. I thank you also and thank God for His favour of finding this site one incrdible story after another. Thank you.
What better can there be in the heart than to trust and obey.
I have now words to write…
WOW!!! What an inspiring story…
Very inspiring!
I never knew the history of the Brooklyn bridge….it is an extraordinary…
This is one of the best stories that I have read. I wanted to visit here.
Very inspiring story. It really shows that if you have a dream and believe in yourself, the sky is the limit.
Truely inspiring story.
Never back down..thumbs up people cause this guy really deserves a round of a applause…never give up..thats what I learned..and that has really changed my attitude towards life..these are the ones who you should really look up to..SALUTE !
Wonderful story but you missed the part out making the vary same bridge first from Cincinnati to Covington, KY. The John Roebling suspension bridge stands today, it was completed in 1866 as a predecessor to the Brooklyn Bridge.
What a very nice story!!! Just believe in yourself, trust God and nothing is impossible….Thanks.
This story was just…heart touching…felt every…line of it…thanks…it just opened my eyes….
Awesome one.
Touching indeed. If only that we youth can take a decisive step and stick to what we believe in, no matter how challenging & tough the journey through it may be.
As an engineer I really admire him this story would give lot of confident despite of the legend struggle he lucky to have lovable wife.
Great inspirational story ! Whoever has the determination to achieve anything definately they will succeed.