Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Thomas Neill bridge construction photograph and ephemera collection, 1939-1940
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- Neill, Thomas W
- Title
- Thomas Neill bridge construction photograph and ephemera collection
- Dates
- 1939-1940 (inclusive)19391940
- Quantity
- 165 photographic prints (3 boxes) ; sizes vary
- Collection Number
- PH0011
- Summary
- Photographs, pamphlets, and fact sheets on the planning and construction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Lake Washington Floating Bridge, 1939-1940; collected by Thomas W. Neill.
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Thomas W. Neill was director of public relations for the Washington State Toll Bridge Authority during the construction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Lake Washington Floating Bridge.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
Construction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge began in Nov., 1938. The bridge opened on July 1, 1940, to public acclaim. Lauded as an essential economic and military portal to the Olympic Peninsula, its completion was called a triumph of man's ingenuity and perseverance. It had been completed in record time and, with a 2,800 ft. central span, was the third largest span in the world. Immediately upon its opening it began swaying in the wind, which earned it the nickname “Galloping Gertie.” Four months after it opened to the public the bridge fell, in what was later called "the Pearl Harbor of engineering."
Construction on the Lake Washington Floating Bridge began Dec. 29, 1939, and was completed on July 2, 1940. At the time of construction, the Lake Washington Floating Bridge was the largest floating structure ever built by man and the first reinforced concrete floating roadway bridge ever built.
Prior to construction of the Lake Washington Floating Bridge, the only routes from the east side of the lake to Seattle were around Lake Washington to the north or south. The floating design was chosen for two reasons. First, Lake Washington has an unstable floor and it was doubtful that any foundation for concrete piers could be found within a reasonable depth. Second, at the time of construction, the cost for an orthodox type of bridge from the west shore of Lake Washington to Mercer Island would have been approximately $18,000,000—almost five times the cost of a floating bridge covering the same distance.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of photographs and ephemera that document the planning and construction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Lake Washington Floating Bridge (later renamed the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge) between 1939 and 1940. Included are photographs of related drawings and maps, as well as portraits of engineers and others involved in the projects. The items were collected by Thomas Neill, and many of the photographs were created by Simmer.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Tacoma Narrows Bridge Album, 1939-1940Return to Top
All photographs in box 1 were made by Alfred G. Simmer unless otherwise indicated.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
1/1 | 1 | June 30-July 4, 1940 | |
1/2 | 2 |
Aerial view map
of proposed route of Tacoma Narrows Bridge Gilmore, R. M (artist)
Photograph of drawing.
|
|
1/3 | 3 | Drawing of
proposed Tacoma Narrows Bridge superimposed on photograph of proposed site of
bridge |
|
1/4 | 4 | Proposed Tacoma
Narrows Bridge Photograph of drawing.
|
|
1/5 | 5 | ||
1/6 | 6-8 |
Drawings of
bridge support footing with side cut away to show inner structure Gilmore, R. M (artist)
|
|
1/7 | 9 |
Cable anchor
under bridge approach Gilmore, R. M (artist)
|
|
1/8 | 10 | Mar. 28, 1939 | |
1/9 | 11 | Construction
view of caisson for pier 4 |
Mar. 28, 1939 |
1/10 | 12 | Pier 4
construction, looking east |
Aug. 10, 1939 |
1/11 | 13 | Aug. 10, 1939 | |
1/12 | 14 | Pier 5
construction, looking west toward pier 4 |
Aug. 24, 1939 |
1/13 | 15 | Pier 5
construction, looking west toward pier 4 |
Sept. 7, 1939 |
1/14 | 16 | Pier 4 tower,
looking east |
Sept. 7, 1939 |
1/15 | 17 | [Concrete plant
for bridge construction?] |
|
1/16 | 18 | Pier towers
under construction, looking east |
Oct. 20, 1939 |
1/17 | 19 | Pier towers with
tram assembly for cable spinning operation |
Jan. 10, 1940 |
1/18 | 20 | Jan. 10, 1940 | |
1/19 | 21 | Spinning tower
and bridge at east anchorage |
Jan. 10, 1940 |
1/20 | 22 | Jan. 10, 1940 | |
1/21 | 23 | View of bridge
showing roadway in place |
|
1/22 | 24 |
Ceremony for
spinning of first cable wire (L to R) Everett T. Smith, President of Chamber of Commerce;
John Schlarb, Chairman, Board of County Commissioners; Mayor J.J. Kaufman; Mrs.
Doc Weathers; Lacey V. Murrow, State Highway Director; Adm. Luther E. Gregory,
State Liquor Board Head; Charles E. Andrew, Principal Consulting Engineer;
Cliff Yelle, State Auditor.
|
Jan. 10, 1940 |
1/23 | 25 | Hydraulic
unreeling machines at east anchorage |
Jan. 10, 1940 |
1/24 | 26 | Anchor bar
installation, east anchorage |
July 13, 1939 |
1/25 | 27 | West anchorage
construction |
Aug. 24, 1939 |
1/26 | 28 | Mar. 5, 1940 | |
1/27 | 29-30 | Mar. 5, 1940 | |
1/28 | 31 | Mar. 5, 1940 | |
1/29 | 32a-e |
Lake Washington Floating Bridge Album, 1939-1940Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | item | ||
2/1 | 33 | ||
2/2 | 34 | Map showing
proposed route of State Highway 2 |
|
2/3 | 35 | Cliff Yelle,
state auditor |
|
2/4 | 36 | Don Abel,
director of public service |
|
2/5 | 37 | ||
2/5 | 38 | P.H. Winston,
secretary, Washington Toll Bridge Authority |
|
2/6 | 39 | Charles E.
Andrew, principal consulting engineer |
|
2/6 | 40 | R.B. McMinn,
bridge engineer, Public Roads Administration |
|
2/7 | 41 | R.H. Thompson,
consulting engineer |
|
2/7 | 42 | L.E. Gregory,
rear admiral, U.S. Navy, ret. |
|
2/8 | 43 | L.R. Durkee,
acting project engineer, Public Works Administration |
|
2/8 | 44 | R.M. Murray,
Lake Washington Bridge engineer |
|
2/9 | 45 | Charles E.
Andrews, principal consulting engineer |
|
2/10 | 46 | R.M. Murray,
Lake Washington Bridge engineer |
|
2/11 | 47 | Board of
consulting engineers, Lake Washington Floating Bridge Project Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
(L to R) R.H. Thomson, Adm. L.E. Gregory, C.E. Andrew, R.B.
McMinn.
|
Feb. 14, 1940 |
2/12 | 48 | Members of
designing department, Lake Washington Bridge Project headquarters
office Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
(Rear, L to R) J.W. Gould, F.E. Brown, F.E. Swanson, O.B.
Fields, R.G. Day, C. McClure, H.C. Witte, E.E. Van Ness; (front, L to R) J.H.
Pearce, H.P. O’Reilly, W.B. Porter, L.J. Lovegren, E.B. Wooliscroft,
C.E. Corser, B.V. Christy, T.B. Allen.
|
Feb. 17, 1940 |
2/13 | 49 | Speakers' group
at Lake Washington Floating Bridge dedication ceremony Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 2, 1940 |
2/14-15 | 50-51 |
Lake Washington
Floating Bridge opening ceremony at west approach plaza Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 2, 1940 |
2/16 | 52 |
Speakers’
stand on toll plaza on Mercer Island, Lake Washington Floating Bridge
dedication ceremony Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 2, 1940 |
2/17 | 53 |
Lake Washington
Floating Bridge dedication ceremony at toll plaza on Mercer Island Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 2, 1940 |
2/18 | 54 |
Governor’s party approaching toll plaza from bridge,
Lake Washington Floating Bridge dedication parade Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 2, 1940 |
2/19 | 55 | Floating
bridge, looking southeast, units 3, 4, 5 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 9, 1940 |
2/20 | 56 |
Floating bridge,
looking northeast, unit 2 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Aug. 5, 1940 |
2/21 | 57 | ||
2/22 | 58 | ||
2/23 | 59 | ||
2/24 | 60 |
Sodium vapor
lamp on floating structure, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
May 11, 1940 |
2/25 | 61 | Map of proposed
route of State Highway 2 and Lake Washington Floating Bridge |
|
2/26 | 62 | Aerial view map
of proposed route of State Highway 2 and Lake Washington Floating
Bridge R.M. Gilmore (artist)
Photograph of drawing.
|
|
2/27 | 63 | Aerial view map
of proposed route of State Highway 2 and Lake Washington Floating Bridge, from
the northwest R.M. Gilmore (artist)
Photograph of drawing.
|
|
2/28 | 64 | Aerial
photograph with proposed route of Lake Washington Floating Bridge and State
Highway 2 drawn in |
|
2/29 | 65 | Topographic
aerial view map of proposed route of State Highway 2 and Lake Washington
Floating Bridge |
|
2/30 | 66 | Lake Washington
Floating Bridge proposed west approach to Seattle and the tunnel
plaza Lloyd Lovegren (artist)
Photograph of drawing.
|
|
2/31 | 67 |
Lake Washington
Floating Bridge east tunnel plaza at 35th Avenue Lloyd Lovegren (artist)
Photograph of drawing.
|
|
2/32 | 68 | Lake Washington
Floating Bridge span R.M. Gilmore (artist)
Photograph of drawing.
Two copies.
|
|
2/33 | 69 |
On floating
structure at east side of navigation channel, looking west, draw closed, unit
4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Oct. 9, 1940 |
2/34 | 70 |
On floating
structure at east side of navigation channel, looking west, draw half open,
unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Oct. 9, 1940 |
2/35 | 71 | On floating
structure at east side of navigation channel, looking west, draw open, unit
4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Oct. 9, 1940 |
2/36 | 72 |
Over east portal
of completed bridge, looking east, unit 2 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Oct. 2, 1940 |
2/37 | 73 | East tunnel
portal and plaza, looking west, unit 2 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Sept. 30, 1940 |
2/38 | 74 |
East portal of
tunnels at night, unit 2 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Oct. 22, 1940 |
2/39 | 75 | ||
2/40 | 76 | Night view
inside north tunnel, looking west, unit 2 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Oct. 22, 1940 |
2/41 | 77 |
Administration
building and toll booth, looking east, unit 7 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
June 10, 1940 |
2/42 | 78 | At station 216,
looking east towards overpass at 100th Avenue, unit 7 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
June 10, 1940 |
2/43 | 79 | Operating
elements of floating draw section, hauling mechanism |
|
2/44 | 80 | Aerial view of
proposed floating draw section |
|
2/45 | 81a-b | Cross-section of
Lake Washington Floating Bridge, showing pontoon structure Lloyd Lovegren (artist)
Photograph of drawing.
|
|
2/46 | 82 | Section of
bridge with side removed to show cellular structure R.M. Gilmore (artist)
Photograph of drawing.
|
|
2/47 | 83 | Two drawings and
one photo showing anchor cable structure R.M. Gilmore (artist)
|
|
2/48 | 84 | ||
2/49 | 85 | ||
2/50 | 86 | Construction of
graving dock no. 1 on Harbor Island, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Apr. 5, 1939 |
2/51 | 87 |
Graving dock no.
1, preparing foundation for pontoon forms, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Apr. 26, 1939 |
2/52 | 88 |
Graving dock no.
2 under construction, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
May 26, 1939 |
2/53 | 89 | Pontoon section
"K" in graving dock no. 2, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 8, 1940 |
2/54 | 90 |
Pontoon A-7,
showing anchor cable truss in position and placing of reinforcing steel for
center wall, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Aug. 18, 1939 |
2/55 | 91 | Pontoon "C"
showing cable saddle and outside port assembly, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 9, 1940 |
2/56 | 92 | Pontoon |
|
2/57 | 93 | Pouring concrete
for portion of a pontoon, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 26, 1939 |
2/58 | 94 |
Pontoon A-4
under construction, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 26, 1939 |
2/59 | 95 | Placing roadway
slab steel for pontoon A-3 in graving dock no. 1, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 20, 1939 |
2/60 | 96 | Graving dock no.
2; pontoon section H-L guide roller track in place, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Feb. 9, 1940 |
2/61 | 97 | Launching
pontoon A-3, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 26, 1939 |
2/62 | 98 |
Pontoon A-1
leaving graving dock, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 5, 1939 |
2/63 | 99 |
Pontoon A-1 in
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks [Ballard Locks], unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Oct. 13, 1939 |
2/64 | 100 |
Pontoon L-1 in
Hiram M. Chittenden Locks [Ballard Locks], unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 27, 1940 |
2/65 | 101 | Looking east at
pontoons A-2 to A-8 in position, showing shear keys in west end of pontoon,
unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Oct. 10, 1939 |
2/66 | 102 | ||
2/67 | 103 |
West approach to
bridge, unit 3 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Aug. 30, 1939 |
2/68 | 104 |
View of bridge
construction from 34th Avenue S., looking east, unit 3 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Dec. 27, 1939 |
2/69 | 105 | View of bridge
construction from 35th Avenue S., looking northeast, unit 3 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Dec. 27, 1939 |
2/70 | 106 | Tied arch span
over navigation channel, looking northeast, unit 3 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 29, 1940 |
2/71 | 107 |
View from west
end of bridge, looking northeast, unit 3 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 29, 1940 |
2/72 | 108 | West end of
bridge, ready for pontoon L-1, looking southeast, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
Unit 3 in foreground.
|
Jan. 24, 1940 |
2/73 | 109 |
View from Lake
Washington Boulevard, looking east, unit 3 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 29, 1940 |
2/74 | 110 |
Birds-eye view
of 3,850 feet of pontoon structure in place, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Nov. 4, 1939 |
2/75 | 111 | Dec. 11, 1939 | |
2/76 | 112 | View of bridge
construction from shore Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
|
2/77 | 113 | ||
2/78 | 114 | Pontoons D, G-2,
and L-2 in place, looking west, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Mar. 6, 1940 |
2/79 | 115 | Transition span
and supports, looking northwest, unit 3 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Apr. 29, 1940 |
2/80 | 116 | East view of
pontoons west of pontoon M in place, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Feb. 1, 1940 |
2/81 | 117 |
View of bridge
from 35th Avenue S., looking northeast, unit 3 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Apr. 29, 1940 |
2/82 | 118 |
Bridge span,
ferry on Lake Washington in distance Asahel Curtis (photographer)
|
|
2/83 | 119 | Roadway sections
at join |
|
2/84 | 120 | Sidewalk, curb,
and railing on floating structure near mid length, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 30, 1940 |
2/85 | 121 | Bolted
connection, pontoon F to pontoon C, showing method of tightening bolts, unit
4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 9, 1940 |
2/86 | 122 | Bolted
connection, pontoon F to pontoon C, showing method of tightening bolts, unit
4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 9, 1940 |
2/87 | 123 |
Painting and
wrapping of anchor cables at Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Co., Harbor
Island, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Aug. 31, 1939 |
2/88 | 124 | Type
“A” anchor, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
June 27, 1939 |
2/89 | 125 | Placing second
type “A” anchor, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 14, 1939 |
2/90 | 126 |
Second type
“A” anchor being lowered, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 14, 1939 |
2/91 | 127 | Driving type
“C” anchors using wood frame jig, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Dec. 27, 1939 |
2/92 | 128 |
Preparing to set
type “B” anchor at 12 north, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Sept. 26, 1939 |
2/93 | 129 | Type
“C” cable anchor Photograph of drawing.
|
|
2/94 | 130 |
On Yakima
Avenue, back of west portal, looking west, unit 2 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
June 4, 1940 |
2/95 | 131 |
Looking west
from 23rd Avenue S., unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Apr. 29, 1940 |
2/96 | 132 |
Pedestrian
overpass at 24th Avenue S., looking northwest, near Rainier Avenue connection,
unit 1 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 31, 1940 |
2/97 | 133 | Concrete
approach, unit 5 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Aug. 30, 1939 |
2/98 | 134 | View looking
west from pier 12, unit 5 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 3, 1940 |
3/99 | 135 |
Concrete
approach spans, looking west, unit 5 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 30, 1940 |
3/100 | 136 |
Completed
bridge, looking west, unit 5 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Aug. 5, 1940 |
3/101 | 137 | Looking east
toward draw pontoon basin, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
June 4, 1940 |
3/102 | 138 | Pontoons around
draw sections, looking northwest, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
June 14, 1940 |
3/103 | 139 | At navigation
channel, looking northeast, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
June 14, 1940 |
3/104 | 140 |
Guide rolls for
draw pontoon, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 8, 1940 |
3/105 | 141 |
Detail of guide
roller assembly for draw pontoon, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 8, 1940 |
3/106 | 142 | Steel buoyancy
units afloat at boiler works, unit 4 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Feb. 15, 1940 |
3/107 | 143 | Muddy road and
field, with houses in distance Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
|
3/108 | 144 | East from
station 278+65, unit 8 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Oct. 30, 1939 |
3/109 | 145 | At overpass at
station 248, looking southeast, unit 7 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
July 28, 1939 |
3/110 | 146 | Looking east
from west end of bridge, unit 10 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Nov. 17, 1939 |
3/111 | 147 |
Mercer Island
Boulevard overpass, station 216, looking north, unit 7 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Sept. 28 1939 |
3/112 | 148 | View of bridge
construction from water Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
|
3/113 | 149 | Southeast from
west end, unit 9 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Nov. 17, 1939 |
3/114 | 150 |
Bridge from
Mercer Island to the east mainland Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 30, 1940 |
3/115 | 151 | Looking
northeast at deck slab reinforcing on steel spans, unit 9 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 30, 1940 |
3/116 | 152 |
Roadway slab
construction, looking west, unit 9 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 30, 1940 |
3/117 | 153 |
Mercer Slough
Bridge construction, east side of Lake Washington, unit 11 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Nov. 17, 1939 |
3/118 | 154 |
South tunnel,
looking west, unit 2 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Aug. 7, 1940 |
3/119 | 155 | Detail of a
design on portal |
|
3/120 | 156 |
East end of
tunnels, looking northwest, unit 2 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Nov. 1, 1939 |
3/121 | 157 | North tunnel
construction at station 111+40, looking west, unit 2 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Sept. 12, 1939 |
3/122 | 158 |
East tunnel
portal, looking west, unit 2 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 30, 1940 |
3/123 | 159 | South tunnel
construction, concrete lining rings in place at station 112+40 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Sept. 12, 1939 |
3/124 | 160 |
South tunnel,
looking southeast at timber lining and footing between stations 112+40 and
112+6, unit 2 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Sept. 12, 1939 |
3/125 | 161 | North tunnel
construction, looking east from station 109+00 Alfred G. Simmer (photographer)
|
Jan. 12, 1940 |
3/126 | 162 | Lake Washington
Floating Bridge map with technical details |
|
3/127 | 163a-b | Lake Washington
Floating Bridge statistics |
1937 |
3/128 | 164 | Lake Washington
Floating Bridge toll schedule |
1941 |
3/129 | 165 | Lake Washington
Floating Bridge construction progress reports |
1939-1940 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Bridges--Washington (State)--Design and construction--Photographs
- Bridges--Washington (State)--Foundations and piers--Photographs
- Engineers--Washington (State)--Photographs
- Pontoon bridges--Washington (State)--Photographs
- Suspension bridges--Washington (State)--Photographs
Geographical Names
- Lacey V. Murrow Bridge (Mercer Island and Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
- Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma, Wash.)--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Design drawings
- Photographs
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Simmer (photographer)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)