In Spanning the Gilded Age, John K. Brown tells the daring,
improbable story of the construction of the St. Louis Bridge, known
popularly as the Eads Bridge. Completed in 1874, it was the first
structure of any kind—anywhere in the world—built of steel. This history
details the origins, design, construction, and enduring impact of a
unique feat of engineering, and it illustrates how Americans built their
urban infrastructure during the nineteenth century. With three
graceful arches spanning the Mississippi River, the Eads Bridge's twin
decks carried a broad boulevard above a dual-track railroad. To place
its stone piers on bedrock, engineer James Eads pioneered daring
innovations that allowed excavators to work one hundred feet beneath the
river. With construction scarcely begun, Eads circulated a
prospectus—offering a 400 percent return on investment—that attracted
wealthy investors, including J. Pierpont Morgan in New York and his
father, Junius, in London. This record-breaking design, which employed a
novel method to lay its foundations and an untried metal for its
arches, was projected by a steamboat man who had never before designed a
bridge.
By detailing influential figures such as James Eads, the Morgans, Andrew Carnegie, and Jay Gould, Spanning the Gilded Age
offers new perspectives on an era that saw profound changes in
business, engineering, governance, and society. Beyond the bridge
itself, Brown explores a broader story: how America became urban,
industrial, and interconnected. This triumph of engineering reflects the
Gilded Age's grand ambitions, and the bridge remains a vital
transportation artery today.
