Catastrophe to Triumph
The bridges of the Tacoma Narrows
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
12:10 to 1:00pm a brown bag presentation
Washington State Library, Room 221 by author Richard Hobbs
6880 Capitol Boulevard South, Tumwater
Seating available on a first come basis
The first Tacoma Narrows bridge opened July 1, 1940
connecting the city of Tacoma to the Key Peninsula ending
generations of isolation and bringing new economic growth to
the region. The community welcomed the surge of new residents
and businesses.
Four months later on November 7, 1940, disaster struck. Winds
Photo credit: Bashford/Thompson
of 35 to 46 miles per hour caused the new bridge’s deck to rise and
fall. The state police and highway department closed the bridge
at 10:00 am. Thirty minutes after the bridge closed the road bed
began breaking up sending pieces of concrete falling 195 feet into
the water below.
Author Richard Hobbs spent two years researching “Galloping
Gertie” as the first bridge was affectionately called. Rick explored
the many scandals surrounding the construction of Gertie. Why
did local government agencies hire a New York bridge consultant
Photo credit: James Bashford
to revise plans designed by their own engineer? Why did they
prefer the modified lighter, thinner design?
Join us as Richard reveals the secrets he learned while researching
“Galloping Gertie.”
For more information about this or other free events at the
Washington State Library
contact: WSL events at 360.704.5269 or
wslevents@secstate.wa.gov
Book cover and background photo by Christopher Boswell