Who Was Emily Roebling?

I can see Rod Serling of the "Twilight Zone" introducing this blog: "Picture yourself in Brooklyn, New York.  You're standing in front of the Brooklyn Bridge and you're watching the opening ceremonies of the the bridge on May 24, 1883.  Who is that woman who is the first one driving across the bridge and why is she riding with a rooster?" 

This is the front page of a newspaper announcing the opening. President of the United States, Chester Arthur, was in attendance with the Mayor of New York, Franklin Edson. 

Emily Roebling was a highly accomplished woman who was married to Washington Roebling, the chief engineer of the bridge. His dad, John Roebling, designed the bridge.  It took 13 years to build the suspension bridge and the last 11 years were managed by Emily.  Her husband became disabled from decompression sickness while the bridge was being built.  Emily took over all of his duties and completed the project. 

It was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was completed and the cost was $15.5 million dollars in those days and over $500 million dollars in today's money.  Emily Roebling went on to law school and became of the first female lawyers in New York.  Underneath the bridge tower is Emily Roebling Plaza to honor her.

And what about that rooster? It symbolized victory and the breaking of barriers.