How Mohawk ‘Skywalkers’ Helped Build New York City’s Tallest Skyscrapers

Historical Overview & Introduction

When we picture Native American history, images of the rural West often dominate—tipis, buffalo, and wide-open plains. Yet the Mohawk Nation (Kanienʼkehá꞉ka) has deep roots in the dense, vertical landscape of New York City. Beginning in the early 20th century, Mohawk ironworkers—known as “Skywalkers”—traveled from reserves like Kahnawake, Akwesasne, and Six Nations to work on the “high steel,” helping to erect many of Manhattan’s most iconic skyscrapers. These riveting gangs spoke their native languages on the job while building the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Plaza, and later the World Trade Center towers. Their story is one of skill, courage, and cultural resilience—a testament to how Indigenous peoples adapted to and shaped the modern American metropolis.

The Genesis of the Skywalker Tradition

The Mohawk Skywalker tradition began in 1886, when daring Mohawk men from Kahnawake took jobs helping to build the Victoria Bridge across the St. Lawrence River near their reserve in Quebec. Early European settlers had observed Mohawks walking fearlessly across rivers on narrow logs, and these same men showed an unusual aptitude for climbing and working on steel beams. Having once hunted, trapped, and farmed throughout the northeast woodlands, the Mohawks of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy) soon took to the high steel in burgeoning metropolitan areas. These Indigenous riveting gangs helped to build the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Plaza, and many other structures that shaped the New York City skyline in the 1920s and 1930s.

The tradition nearly came to an end in 1907 when 33 Mohawk men from Kahnawake died during the collapse of the Quebec Bridge near Quebec City. More than two-thirds of these men were married, leaving behind dozens of children and 24 widows. The resilient Skywalkers rebounded, but only after Mohawk women demanded that they not work together in family groups. They would instead work in dispersed riveting gangs, lest another disaster wipe out such a wide swath of one family. As Lynn Beauvais, a Kahnawake resident and grandmother from a fourth-generation ironworker family, explained, “Women always chose the chiefs because they lived in matrilineal clans and saw the boys grow up. They would choose leaders because they knew about their boys’ characteristics from infancy to manhood.”

High Steel Work and the Riveting Gangs

What began as a high-paying vocation became a tribal tradition as fathers and grandfathers taught their sons and grandsons to handle their fears effectively. The Skywalker tradition was passed down for many generations as Mohawks worked the high steel from Ontario to Chicago and Philadelphia, and as far away as San Francisco. They even established a neighborhood of their own in Brooklyn, New York. By 1960, Atlantic Avenue and the Boerum Hill area of Brooklyn was home to about 800 Mohawk ironworkers and their relatives. Many frequented the Wigwam Bar and attended a church run by Rev. David Munroe Cory, who even learned the Mohawk language to give sermons in their native tongue. Storekeepers supplied ingredients for favorite Mohawk recipes like cornbread with beans. This enclave of Indigenous tradesmen centered around the Brooklyn Local 361 Ironworkers’ Union, made up largely of Kahnawake Mohawks. Old-timers in the Brooklyn neighborhood, known as Little Caughnawaga (an early spelling of Kahnawake), would recall the booming 1920s and 1930s when the Mohawk Skywalkers became legend while building the nation’s most bustling metropolis. Above the entrance to the Wigwam was a sign that read, “THE GREATEST IRONWORKERS IN THE WORLD PASS THROUGH THESE DOORS.”

Skyscrapers of the ’20s and ’30s were framed with steel columns, beams, and girders fitted together by four-man riveting gangs. One man called a “heater” fired the rivets in a portable forge until they were red-hot, tossing them to the “sticker-in” who caught it in a metal can or glove. The “bucker-up” braced the rivet with a dolly bar while the “riveter” used a pneumatic hammer to mushroom out the rivet stem to secure the locking steel. They took turns on each job while standing on narrow scaffolding hundreds of feet above the street. “It was always windy up there, and in winter the men cleaned off the steel beams of ice and snow before working on them,” Beauvais said. “In the old days there were no safety lines, and they didn’t wear helmets. It was hard work, but they never talked about the danger. Our men have always really enjoyed their work and were proud of it.”

Building the Iconic Skyline

Advances in metallurgy during the early 1900s had made it possible for architects to design much taller buildings using a skeleton of hardened steel, fastened by riveting gangs. During the 1920s, this led to a “race to the sky” as some of the most notable skyscrapers in Gotham began to take shape. Mohawks worked on the 1,046-foot Chrysler Building, a stainless-steel-sided Art Deco masterpiece that was completed in 1930. It was the tallest building in the world until, less than a year later, it was surpassed by the Empire State Building at 1,250 feet, also with the help of the Mohawks. Skywalkers then helped out on Rockefeller Plaza, which was finished in 1933.

Lynn Beauvais’ grandfather Joseph Jocks worked on several of them. He told her that during the Great Depression men were desperate for jobs. “Men would wait in the street for someone to fall off so they could take their job. My grandmother would walk miles to find day-old bread to eat, but they survived.” Beauvais was proud of her grandfather’s work on the Empire State Building, once the tallest building in the world. “But when I got older, he told me there were going to be other buildings even taller—the World Trade Center towers. I was sad that my Empire State Building was going to be outdone, but Joe Jocks also went to work on the Trade Towers.”

The World Trade Center and 9/11

Hundreds of Mohawk ironworkers went to work on the World Trade Center towers in the late 1960s. Beauvais watched the towers rise from her mother’s kitchen window in Brooklyn. Her grandmother said not to visit the job site to see what the men do. “‘It’ll make you nervous,’ she said—and it does. I went to lower Manhattan later to see my brother Kyle Beauvais. He was working five stories up, and I saw him walking outside of the building to come see me. I couldn’t stand to watch him.”

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks destroyed the World Trade Center towers, Mohawks, familiar with steelwork and crane operations, went to Ground Zero to help clean up—including members of the Beauvais family. “My brother Kyle went in eight hours after the towers came down. My grandfather had worked on the construction of the towers and retired from that job. My brothers worked on their final demolition and sent them to the scrapyard.”

Cultural Significance and Legacy

Although much lore has arisen over years about the Mohawk’s innate balance and fearlessness at great heights, Skywalkers say it is more a matter of controlling their fear and learning from elders how to trust one another. The riveting gangs have now been replaced with advanced technology, but the work is still dangerous. Ironworkers still die on the job at a rate of 35 to 50 fatalities each year—most of them from falls. Many Mohawk ironworkers have fallen to their deaths while on the job. Steel girder crosses mark the graves of fallen Skywalkers in the Kahnawake cemetery. This tradition reflects the broader historical development of Native American art and craftsmanship, showcasing how Indigenous skills and knowledge have been adapted to modern industries. The Mohawk Skywalkers also exemplify the historical resilience of Native American cultures against assimilation, maintaining their identity while contributing to the broader society. Their story is a powerful reminder of the historical role of Native American women in agriculture and governance, as Mohawk women played a crucial role in reshaping the labor practices of the ironworkers.

Historical Context & Key Cultural Takeaways

• 1886: Mohawk men from Kahnawake begin working on the Victoria Bridge, marking the start of the Skywalker tradition.
• 1907: Quebec Bridge collapse kills 33 Mohawk workers, leading to changes in work practices and the involvement of Mohawk women in decision-making.
• 1920s–1930s: Mohawk riveting gangs help build iconic skyscrapers like the Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Plaza.
• 1960s: Mohawk ironworkers contribute to the construction of the World Trade Center towers.
• Post-9/11: Mohawk workers assist in cleanup and demolition at Ground Zero.
• Cultural Resilience: The Skywalker tradition demonstrates how Indigenous peoples adapted to urban environments while maintaining cultural identity and community ties.
• Matrilineal Influence: Mohawk women played a decisive role in restructuring work gangs to protect families, reflecting the matrilineal nature of Haudenosaunee society.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who were the Mohawk Skywalkers?

The Mohawk Skywalkers were Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk) ironworkers from communities such as Kahnawake, Akwesasne, and Six Nations who worked on high steel construction in New York City and other cities during the 20th century. They were renowned for their skill and courage in building skyscrapers.

Why did Mohawk workers become ironworkers?

The tradition began in 1886 with the Victoria Bridge project. Mohawk men had a reputation for fearlessness and agility, honed by their traditional practices of hunting and trapping in the northeast woodlands. These skills translated well to working on high steel. The work also provided good wages to support their home communities.

What was the role of Mohawk women in the Skywalker tradition?

Mohawk women, who held significant influence in their matrilineal society, demanded that men not work together in family groups after the 1907 Quebec Bridge disaster. This was to prevent another tragedy from wiping out multiple members of a single family. Women also chose chiefs and played a key role in community decisions.

Which iconic buildings did Mohawk ironworkers help construct?

Mohawk Skywalkers worked on the Chrysler Building (1930), the Empire State Building (1931), Rockefeller Plaza (1933), and the World Trade Center towers (1970s), among many others.

How did the Mohawk community in Brooklyn develop?

By 1960, about 800 Mohawk ironworkers and their families lived in the Boerum Hill area of Brooklyn, centered around Atlantic Avenue. Known as Little Caughnawaga, the neighborhood had a vibrant community with establishments like the Wigwam Bar and a church where sermons were given in Mohawk.

What happened to Mohawk ironworkers after 9/11?

Following the 9/11 attacks, Mohawk ironworkers, including members of the Beauvais family, went to Ground Zero to assist with cleanup and demolition, using their expertise in steelwork and crane operations.

Concluding Synthesis on Cultural Legacy & Modern Preservation

The legacy of the Mohawk Skywalkers endures as a testament to Indigenous resilience and adaptability. Their contributions to New York City’s skyline are a permanent reminder of Native American ingenuity and labor. Today, the tradition continues, though with modern safety equipment and techniques. The story of the Skywalkers is preserved in community memory, museums, and historical accounts, ensuring that future generations recognize the role of Mohawk ironworkers in shaping the urban landscape. As we reflect on this history, we honor the men who walked the high steel and the families and communities who supported them.