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Tacoma Narrows Bridge, 1940
Tacoma Narrows · Pierce County · November 7, 1940
Galloping Gertie opened in July 1940 as the third-longest suspension span in the world. It tore itself apart in the wind four months later.
The first Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened to traffic in July 1940. FHWA says it was a three-span suspension bridge. The main span was 2,800 feet (853.4 m) and the total length was 5,939 feet (1,810.2 m), the third-longest suspension span in the world at the time.
On November 7, 1940, only four months after opening, the deck oscillated in a twisting motion. FHWA attributes the motion to resonance from vortex shedding and aeroelastic flutter. Several suspenders in the main span ruptured and the bridge collapsed. The way it twisted and heaved earned the nickname Galloping Gertie.
The Public Roads Administration joined other experts in research that improved later suspension bridges, including the Mackinac and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridges. FHWA later wrote that the only fatality was a cocker spaniel named Tubby. The sources below are Federal Highway Administration history pages.
- History
- Science / Strange Washington
Sources (3)
government · Tier S
Federal Highway AdministrationNovember 7 — FHWA By Day
government · Tier S
Federal Highway AdministrationRedundancy in Long-span Bridges for Risk Mitigation in a Multi-hazard Environment
government · Tier S
Federal Highway AdministrationHappy 50th Anniversary — National Bridge Inspection Standards
Last reviewed: September 21, 2026
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