David B. Steinman facts for kids
David Barnard Steinman (born June 11, 1886 – died August 21, 1960) was a famous American civil engineer. He designed the amazing Mackinac Bridge and many other important bridges around the world. He was also a published author.
David grew up in New York City's lower Manhattan. He was inspired by the huge Brooklyn Bridge he lived near. He dreamed of making his own mark on bridge building. He worked hard to get his education. He earned a bachelor's degree from City College in 1906. Then he got a Master of Arts in 1909 and a PhD in 1911 from Columbia University. He built bridges in many countries, including the United States, Thailand, England, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Canada, Korea, Iraq, and Pakistan.
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Who Was David Steinman?
David Steinman's Early Life and Education
David Steinman was born to immigrant parents. He had six brothers and sisters. There are different ideas about where and when he was born. Some say he was born in Chomsk, Belarus, in 1886 and moved to the U.S. in 1890. But other sources, including Steinman himself, say he was born in New York in 1887.
He grew up in New York City, near the Brooklyn Bridge. The Williamsburg Bridge was also being built when he was young. This time was full of bridge construction in the area. Steinman later said this is where he first became interested in bridges.
His family did not have much money. So, he worked to pay for his studies at the City College of New York. He graduated with honors in 1906. Then he went to Columbia University. There, he earned three more degrees, including a PhD in Civil Engineering. His PhD project was a design for a steel truss arch for the Henry Hudson Bridge. While studying at Columbia, he also taught evening classes at City College and Stuyvesant High School. He took a teaching job at the University of Idaho (1910–1914). But he really wanted to return to New York.
Starting His Career in Bridge Building
After finishing his studies, Steinman contacted Gustav Lindenthal, a famous bridge engineer. He returned to New York City to work as a special assistant to Lindenthal. Another young engineer, Othmar Ammann, also worked there. Working together led to a professional rivalry between Steinman and Ammann that lasted 40 years.
While working with Lindenthal, Steinman helped build the Hell Gate Bridge. He also worked on the Sciotoville Bridge over the Ohio River. After this, Steinman worked as an assistant engineer on the Rondout Creek Bridge. He also worked for the New York Central Railroad.
Building Bridges with Robinson & Steinman
Forming a Partnership
In 1920, Holton D. Robinson, an engineer who worked on the Williamsburg Bridge, asked Steinman to join him. They decided to work together to design the Florianópolis Bridge in Florianópolis, Brazil. In 1921, they formed their own company called Robinson & Steinman. This partnership lasted until the 1940s.
The 1920s were a difficult time for building bridges. So, Steinman tried to design bridges that were affordable but still strong and safe. For example, for the Florianópolis bridge, they used a new design. It made the bridge very stiff but used less material. This made their designs more competitive. Steinman became known for his good presentations and his smart approach to projects.
Famous Bridges Designed by Steinman
The 1920s and 1930s were very busy for Steinman's firm. They worked on many important projects:
- The Hercilio Luz Bridge (1926) in Brazil.
- The Carquinez Strait Bridge (1927) in California. At the time, it was the second-largest cantilever bridge in the U.S.
- The Mount Hope Bridge and Grand Mère Suspension Bridge (both 1929).
- The St. Johns Bridge and Waldo-Hancock Bridge (both 1931).
- The Henry Hudson Bridge (1936) in New York. This bridge was special to Steinman because it was based on his PhD project.
- Parts of the Thousand Islands Bridge System (1938).
- The Deer Isle Bridge and the Sullivan-Hutsonville Bridge (both 1939).
Steinman also gave advice on projects his firm didn't win. One famous example is the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge, nicknamed "Galloping Gertie." Steinman had concerns about its design and even predicted it might fail. When the bridge did collapse, it greatly influenced his future designs. He became even more careful. It is said he designed the Mackinac Bridge to withstand very strong winds.
Many people consider the Mackinac Bridge his greatest work. However, Steinman himself preferred the St. Johns Bridge. He once said, "If you asked me which of the bridges I love best, I believe I would say the St. Johns bridge. I put more of myself into that bridge than any other bridge."
During this time, Steinman became president of the American Association of Engineers. He worked to improve education and ethics in the engineering field. He also started the National Society of Professional Engineers in 1934 and was its first president.
Steinman's Work After World War II
Working on the Brooklyn Bridge
After the war, Steinman and his company were in charge of a big repair project for the Brooklyn Bridge. This started in 1948. There is a famous picture of Steinman sitting high up in the cables of the bridge.
Building the Mighty Mac
Even after the war, there were still long suspension bridges to build. Steinman designed the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge (1957). More importantly, he became a key engineer for the Mackinac Bridge. This bridge had been planned for a long time. In 1950, Steinman was chosen to be on the board of engineers for the project. He soon became the spokesperson for the board.
The stress of the early stages of the bridge project affected Steinman's health. He had heart attacks in 1952. This was the same year that funding for the bridge was approved. Despite his health issues, he was deeply involved in every part of the bridge's construction until it was finished.
The "Mighty Mac," as the Mackinac Bridge is called, was completed in 1957. At that time, it was the longest suspended span between anchors in the world. It was his last major achievement. David Steinman passed away in 1960.
Today, Steinman's engineering firm is part of the Parsons Corporation.
David Steinman's Personal Life and Hobbies
When he was 63 years old, David Steinman became interested in poetry. Many people told him that his bridges reminded them of poems. This inspired him to start writing. His love for building bridges was clear in his poems. Two of his poems were even titled "The Bridge" and "I Built a Bridge."
He received a lot of praise for his poetry. Many of his poems were published in newspapers and magazines. He also published a book of his poems called "I Built a Bridge and Other Poems" in 1955. Steinman became a leader in many poetry groups. He was president of the Wisconsin Poetry Foundation and a director of the Poetry Institute in New York.
List of Bridges Designed and Consulted on by Steinman
Steinman designed over 400 bridges across all inhabited continents. Here are some of the most important bridges he worked on:
| Name | Longest Span | Total Length | Type | Opened | Location | Steinman's Role | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hell Gate Bridge | 978 feet (298 m) | 17,000 ft (5.2km) | Arch | 1917 | New York City, New York | Assistant to Mr. Lindenthal | When it opened, it was the longest Arch bridge in the world. | |
| Carquinez Bridge | 3,300 ft (1,000 m) | 3,300 ft (1,000 m) | Cantilever | 1927 | Crockett and Vallejo, California | Designer | This bridge was replaced in 2003 and taken down in 2006. | |
| Hercílio Luz Bridge | 1,115 ft (340m) | 2,689 ft (819.5 m) | Suspension Truss | 1926 | Florianópolis, Brazil | Designer | Longest Suspension span in Brazil. | |
| Walter Taylor Bridge | 600 ft (182.9 m) | 983 ft (299.7 m) | Suspension | 1936 | Brisbane, Australia | Based on Steinman's design proposal for the Sydney Harbor Bridge. | Longest suspension span in Australia. | |
| Thousand Islands Bridge | 800 ft (240 m) | 8.5 mi (13.7 km) | Multi-span: Suspension, Open-Sprandel deck arch, truss | 1938 | Wesley Island, New York and Hill Island, Ontario, Canada | Designer | ||
| Deer Isle Bridge | 1088 ft (322 m) | 2,308 ft (703 m) | Plate Girder Suspension | 1939 | Deer Isle, Maine | Designer | ||
| Mackinac Bridge | 3,800 ft (1,158 m) | 26,372 ft (8,038 m) | Suspension | 1957 | St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, Michigan | Designer | 3rd longest main span in United States. | |
| Ayub Bridge | 806 ft (246 m) | 1,020 ft (310m) | Arch | 1962 | Sukkur, Pakistan | Designer | Longest open main span in Pakistan. |
Books and Articles by Steinman
David Steinman wrote many books and articles. Here are a few of them:
- Steinman, David B. A Practical Treatise on Suspension Bridges (2nd edition), John Wiley & Sons, New York (USA), 1929.
- Steinman, D. (1945). The Builders of the Bridge: The Story of John Roebling and His Son New York: Harcourt Brace. ISBN: 0-405-04724-X (second edition 1950)
- Steinman, D. (1957). Miracle Bridge At Mackinac. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ASIN B0007DXCV4
- Steinman, David B. I Built A Bridge, And Other Poems, The Davidson Press, New York, 1955.
