"Lunch on a Beam: The Making of an
American Photograph"
by Christine Roussel
Christine Roussel's new book is scheduled for publication in April 2026.
In the meantime, here are some interviews about this iconic point in American history:
In the meantime, here are some interviews about this iconic point in American history:
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This is the 1932 image of 11 men: the construction workers who built some of the early sky scrapers that the New York City skyline is so famous for.
But who are they? What are their stories? Christine Roussel has launched an investigative project to find the identity of the men in this photograph. Do you recognize anyone here from your family album? If you do we would be interested to hear from you. Please contact us by tapping the button below. |
Depression-Era 'Lunch Atop a Skyscraper' a Symbol of American Optimism
BBC World Service: Solving the mystery of this iconic photograph
BBC Witness History: Lunch atop a Skyscraper (click image for link)
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Released On: 19 May 2025 (BBC World Service)
In 1932, a photo was taken showing 11 New York ironworkers casually eating their lunch while sitting on a steel beam at the top of a skyscraper. No safety harnesses, no helmets. Their legs dangle freely over the death-defying drop. 'Lunch atop a Skyscraper' is now one of the most famous pictures in the world but it's an image surrounded in mystery. For years, the identity of its photographer and the 11 men have been unknown. Christine Roussel, archivist at the Rockefeller Center, tells Vicky Farncombe about her mission to uncover the photo’s secrets. |