The Roebling Suspension Bridge
Covington to Cincinnati at 3rd between
Vine and Walnut streets;
John A. and Washington Roebling; 1856-67

Originally known as the Covington-Cincinnati Suspension Bridge, this masterpiece of engineering and architecture was designed and constructed under the supervision of John A. Roebling (1808-1869) and his son Washington (1837-1926). Begun in 1856 and officially opened New Year’s day 1867, the bridge had the longest suspension span in the world - 1,057 feet - and was the forerunner of their Brooklyn Bridge. Its fine-tuned cables suit a community known for the precision of its machine-tool industry, fueled by the area’s German-American population.

The movement to construct a suspension bridge connecting North and South at Cincinnati was led by Covington coal baron Amos Shinkle. As the first bridge across the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, it replaced thousands of daily ferry crossings. It was operated as a toll bridge until 1963, even after the Commonwealth of Kentucky bought it in 1955. As completed, the Suspension Bridge provided a dazzling contrast between the massive stone pylons, with bold single Roman round arches, and the delicate spider-web of twisted steel cables - the trademark of the Roeblings, who manufactured cable in their Trenton, N.J., factory. In 1896-98 the Suspension Bridge was reinforced (William Hildenbrandt, engineer) with an upper set of heavy cables and trusswork at the deck level in order to accommodate an urban railway, later replaced by interstate buses. Turrets atop the towers have recently been restored. NHL, NR, National Civil Engineering Landmark (NCEL).