Bridges are always built to be functional, but skilled engineers know they can also be works of architectural wonder. The Brooklyn Bridge, which opened in 1883, is one of the most celebrated and iconic bridges in the world, an engineering triumph and a beautiful piece of design all in one.

This specimen is a piece of original cable from the bridge that was removed as part of a refurbishment project in the 1980s. Along with thousands of other suspension cables, this specimen supported the massive weight of the Brooklyn Bridge from when it first opened to its removal over 100 years later. The specimen measures 0.75-1cm in length.