Women in Construction Week is March 2nd-8th, and it’s a time to celebrate the contributions of women in the construction industry! Started by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) in 1998, this year’s event revolves around the theme of “Together we Rise.” In our 30 years in the construction industry, Tucker Paving can attest to the advantages of women working in construction. See American women in the history of the industry who continue to inspire.
Notable Women in Construction Industry History
Emily Roebling (1843-1903). Emily Roebling is considered one of the first documented women to work in construction; she stepped into her ill husband’s shoes in the 1870s for a decade to complete the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. American politician and industrialist, Abram Stevens, honored Roebling in a speech at the bridge’s opening ceremony by saying that the Brookly Bridge was “…an everlasting monument to the sacrificing devotion of a woman and of her capacity for that higher education from which she has been too long disbarred.”
Julia Morgan (1872-1957) In 1894, Julia Morgan became the first woman to graduate with honors with a B.S. degree in civil engineering from Berkeley. She then became the first woman to be admitted to the legendary École de Beaux-Arts architecture program in Paris, she graduated three years later with a certificate in architecture, though the process usually took five years. She returned to the states to become the first woman to get an architecture license in California; she designed many buildings, pioneered the use of reinforced concrete as an aesthetic feature, and designed and supervised the construction of Hearst Castle.
Elsie Eaves (1898-1983) In 1920, Elsie Eaves was the first woman to earn a degree in civil engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She continued to work in engineering and journalism, and she became the first woman to be admitted for full membership to the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1927. She worked at compiling inventories, statistics, and measurements, pioneering the realm of tracking and reporting trends like spending within construction.
At Tucker Paving, we have three decades in the asphalt and concrete paving industry, and we value every employee on our worksites. Contact us by calling (863) 299-2262, or use our contact form online, to inquire about your next project!