A biography of a man born into slavery in South Carolina who became a master bridge builder and, during Reconstruction, served in the Alabama state legislature.
Presents the story of Lemuel Chenoweth, a simple furniture builder, who won the contest to construct a bridge over the Tygart River in Philippi, Virginia.
Profiles eight builders and their famous construction projects, including Imhotep and the Step Pyramid, Alexandre Eiffel and the Eiffel Tower, and William Lamb and the Empire State Building.