Gateway to Greatness — A Profile of James B. Eads

James Buchanan Eads (1820–1887) is today recognized as one of America's greatest citizens, and in 1932, the Deans of American Colleges of Engineering named him as one of the five greatest engineers of all time, placing him in the company of Thomas Edison and Leonardo Da Vinci. He is perhaps best known for his role in constructing the St. Louis Bridge, now called the Eads Bridge, across the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri. This bridge was completed in 1874, and at the time it was the longest span bridge in history and was the first of its kind to employ a steel arch design. As a testament to Eads' engineering expertise, the bridge is still in use today by St. Louis's Metro light rail system and by highway traffic. It was, and still is, considered a great accomplishment of engineering and aesthetics. Though Eads was never formally educated as a civil engineer, his years of experience as a river salvage captain helped him amass his vast knowledge of the workings of the Mississippi River, and provided him with the wealth and influence necessary to launch future business ventures, including building the St. Louis Bridge. The accomplishments of James Eads also included design and construction of steam-powered ironclad warships during the Civil War; these ships were pivotal in the defeat of the Confederacy. In all, Eads intimate knowledge of the River allowed him to make several long lasting contributions to both his country and his profession.