Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Suspension bridge in Washington state
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge was a steel suspension bridge that stretched about 1,810 meters (5,940 feet) across Puget Sound, connecting Tacoma to the Kitsap Peninsula. Its slender towers rose above the water, and long cables held a narrow deck that people admired for its elegance and modern construction.
The bridge was completed in 1940 and was seen as a marvel that quickly linked Tacoma to the west side of Puget Sound. It collapsed in November of that same year after strong winds set it swaying, and its failure changed how engineers worldwide thought about wind forces.
The name 'Galloping Gertie' came from drivers who watched the deck rise and fall whenever wind picked up. This motion made the structure famous before its collapse and shaped the image of a bridge that seemed almost alive as it danced across the water.
The remains of the original bridge lie underwater and can be reached by divers with permission. Visitors exploring the site from above should know that wind at Puget Sound can be strong, and fog or rain may limit views quickly.
A dog named Tubby, who was in a journalist's car, was lost when the bridge went down and became the only fatality of the disaster. Film footage of the collapse still exists today and is shown in engineering courses around the world to illustrate how structures can respond to wind.
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