For four months in 1940, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was the third longest suspension bridge in the world. That distinction came to an end 75 years ago today, November 7, 1940, when the bridge, between Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula, Washington, came spectacularly crashing down into Puget Sound. As soon as the deck had been built in 1938, construction workers dubbed the bridge “Galloping Gertie,” due to its propensity to move vertically during windy conditions.
On the morning of November 7, the 40 MPH winds proved too much for the structure. No human life was lost in the collapse of the bridge. The last person to drive on the bridge was Leonard Coatsworth, who was forced to flee the bridge on foot. Unfortunately, his terrified cocker spaniel, was afraid to leave the vehicle, and was left behind. An engineering professor and news photographer attempted to rescue the dog during a lull, but the dog refused to leave the vehicle and bit one of the rescuers. When the bridge finally collapsed at 11:00 AM, Tubby disappeared into Puget Sound, and his body has never been recovered.
Since the bridge took some time to collapse, there was plenty of time for newsreel photographers to arrive on the scene to document the disaster. The film is often shown to engineering students.
I first saw this film when my seventh grade drafting teacher showed it in class, apparently in an attempt to impress upon us that if you build something, you ought to build it right. Of course, the main thing we wondered is why the guy was walking on the bridge. Of course, he was returning from his vain attempt to rescue Tubby.
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