Every ironworker in this country aspires to participate in the construction of iconic structures. For many, like the Mohawks, the connection to these works transcends generations. When the children of these workers grow up and see the structures they helped erect, they will feel a deep sense of pride for their parents. Such is the case with the Empire State Building, a symbol that resonated deeply with the family of one Mohawk ironworker, whose grandfather could not walk past it, or see it on television, without recalling the months he spent working on its construction. This sense of belonging makes Manhattan the island of man-made mountains, with the Mohawks as the historic builders of the tallest mountains of steel ever seen.
In 1968, Jack LaLiberté, a fictional character in Michel Moutot’s novel Cathedrals of the Sky, illustrates this deep connection as he shows the World Trade Center construction site to his family. Originally from Kahnawake, near Montreal, the Mohawks have been instrumental in the construction of skyscrapers since the late 19th century, when they specialized as ironworkers, a trade that requires precision in the handling and assembly of iron structures.
The origin of this tradition dates back to the construction of a bridge on Mohawk land, when white settlers requested permission to build it. In return, the Mohawks insisted that their men work on the construction site and learn the techniques of steel construction. Thanks to their skills as carpenters, they quickly adapted these techniques, and their skill on the construction site earned them a reputation that endures to this day. Although it is a legend that the Mohawks lack heights, this myth persists, and the tribe does not deny it, allowing them to negotiate higher rates on projects that involve working at great heights.
The contribution of the Mohawks to the construction of New York is undeniable. They have been involved in the construction of every bridge in the city except the Brooklyn Bridge and every major iron-framed skyscraper, including Trump Tower. Their involvement is so vital that, after the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001, the Mohawks were instrumental in removing the steel debris from Ground Zero, despite the danger to their health from the toxic gases released.
In short, the Mohawks not only built the Twin Towers, but were also instrumental in the construction of the Freedom Tower that now stands in their place. Across generations, their legacy in skyscraper construction lives on, a testament to their skill and resilience, cementing their position as America’s most sought-after ironworkers, able to earn up to $10,000 a month with benefits included.
Today, the Mohawks still proudly claim New York as their own, having built the steel cathedrals that define the city’s skyline.
