Preserved Segment of Vertical Suspender Cable From the Brooklyn Bridge

A historical fragment of vertical suspender cable from the Brooklyn Bridge, dating to its completion in 1883, forever preserved on a wooden display stand.

Beginning in 1986, the city of New York took on the effort to extend the longevity of the Brooklyn Bridge that witnessed the removal and replacement of the original, 1,088 vertical suspender cables (holding the roadway in place) with a new set manufactured by Bethlehem Steel.

NAB Construction Corp. of Queens, New York was assigned to the rehabilitation project, lasting between four to five years. It is possible the company saved and handed out fragments of the original cables to employees who participated in this momentous achievement.

What was the creation of John A. Roebling, who not only designed the Brooklyn Bridge, but also manufactured this cable geared towards its structural strength, represents a moment in history reflected upon what was and still is an engineering wonder over a century later.