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University of Washington Engineering Experiment Station collection of Tacoma Narrows Bridge moving images, 1938-1988

Overview of the Collection

Creator
University of Washington. Engineering Experiment Station
Title
University of Washington Engineering Experiment Station collection of Tacoma Narrows Bridge moving images
Dates
1938-1988 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 videocassette (VHS) (8 minutes) : silent, color
1 video reel (21 minutes, 35 seconds) : silent, color ; 1 inch type C
72 film reels (15,365 feet) : sound, silent, black and white, color ; 16 millimeter
Collection Number
PH0950
Summary
Films about the construction, failure, collapse and aftermath of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge including on-site and laboratory testing
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

The original films are not accessible due to preservation concerns. However, viewing copies are available (VC44, VC73, VC73.1, VC652-VC668) in the Special Collections Division of the University of Washington Libraries.

Request at UW

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Frederick Burt Farquharson was an engineer and professor of engineering. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1895. He studied at the University of Washington, earning his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1923. He then spent two years working for Boeing Airplane Company, after which he returned to the University of Washington to earn his Masters degree and begin teaching. Farquharson taught in the University of Washington's Department of Civil Engineering. He was granted the status of instructor in 1927, assistant professor in 1928, associate professor in 1937, and professor in 1940. From 1945 to 1963, Professor Farquharson directed the Engineering Experiment Station of the University of Washington. He retired from the University in 1963, and was made professor emeritus that same year.

Professor Farquharson's professional interests included various aspects of airplane design (especially early in his career), aerodynamics, and the use of wind tunnels for bridge design testing. He is most noted for the use of wind tunnels for his studies of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse and for the development of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. He served on a number of committees concerned with engineering education and research for such professional engineering societies as the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Society for Engineering Education. Professor Farquharson was also a member of the University of Washington Instructor's Association, which created and assessed a survey of salary and promotion facts, and of faculty opinions regarding the fairness of promotions. He was also called for expert testimony in 1957 in a trial concerning a failed spider staging cable used by a painter at the Weyerhauser Pulp Mill in Cosmopolis, Washington.

Farquharson was politically active during the economic depression of the 1930s. He had associations with such organizations as the League for Industrial Democracy and the National Council for the Prevention of War. His wife, Mary, was also active in anti-war and civil liberties movements, and served in the Washington State Senate.

Frederick Burt Farquharson passed away on June 17, 1970.

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Historical Background

Construction began on the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge in November 1938. On July 1, 1940, the bridge opened to traffic. 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-foot 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.” Only four months later, the bridge collapsed on November 7, 1940, in winds of 42 mph (67 km/h). This collapse was deemed “the Pearl Harbor of engineering."

Contemporary accounts appeared to be shocked by the collapse, although the bridge had begun exhibiting wavelike motions during the final stages of construction. Professor F.B. Farquharson, an engineering professor at the University of Washington, and other University engineers were hired to suggest methods to reduce the movement on the bridge. Over the next few months, experiments were conducted on a scale model, but a solution to the problem proved elusive.

On November 7, 1940, Professor Farquharson was there to witness and document the spectacular collapse of what had been the third longest suspension bridge in the world with the longest single span in the country. Farquharson claimed that the bridge “had a lateral twisting motion, in addition to the vertical wave,” which the bridge hadn’t exhibited before. The first span of the bridge to give way did so around 11:02 AM. This began with a 600-foot section towards the west side of the bridge; following this, another span dropped. By 11:10 AM the bridge had settled with a 30 foot deep sag to it.

Farquharson wasn’t the only man with a movie camera that day. He was accompanied on the east side of the bridge by two attendants from Tacoma’s The Camera Shop, Barney Elliot and Harbine Monroe, and by Walter Miles, a supervisor with the Pacific Bridge Company. On the west side of the bridge was Dr. Jesse Read whose footage has disappeared.

In the aftermath, many theories were discussed concerning the cause of the bridge's collapse. Ultimately, an investigative board for the Washington State Toll Bridge Authority announced the failure was due to the bridge's design reacting to the wind in the Narrows. The only fatality was a family dog, Tubby, who was too afraid to exit the car in which he was seated.

Although rebuilding the bridge was immediately suggested, investigations on the wreckage found the entire superstructure to be unusable. The onset of World War II further stalled attempts to rebuild. Salvage activity continued on the bridge through 1942 with the materials going to the U.S. war effort and the profits saved for the construction of a new bridge.

While the salvage work went on, Professor Farquharson was commissioned to test models of the old Narrows Bridge and the new proposed design for the bridge. At the University of Washington's new structural research lab, built specifically to house the models, tests proved that the new design was sound. Construction on the new bridge began in the summer of 1948 and was finished in October 1950. The previous three and a half years spent studying aerodynamics ensured a bridge whose fate would not mimic the first. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge has remained standing.

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Content Description

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge film collection consists of footage of the construction, failure, collapse and aftermath of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, including newsreels, on-site and laboratory testing, and films of the second Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Films were created by Frederick B. Farquharson, head of the University of Washington Engineering Experiment Station, Phil Jacobaea from the University of Washington Campus Studios, as well as Barney Elliot and Harbine Monroe of the Tacoma Camera Shop. Films from the University of Washington Engineering Experiment Station, the University of Washington Audio Visual Services Materials Library, and the University of Washington Educational Media Center were brought together to form this collection.

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Other Descriptive Information

A majority of the films in this collection contain neither title cards nor credits. Individual film titles have been derived from canister and box labels present at the time of donation, when available.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mary Farquharson.

Processing Note

Processed by Alexis French and Maisie Harrison, 2016-2017.

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Ten films relocated to Frederick B. Farquharson Home Movies, circa 1931- 1947, PH1454.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

  • Construction and Opening of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940)

    Films showing the construction and opening of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940.

  • Pre-Failure Investigation

    The motion of the bridge initiated an investigation into the cause. Films document the bridge motion, development of scale models, and testing on site, at the University of Washington Engineering Experiment Station, and at other research institutions.

    • Construction Material Experiments

    • Model testing at the Structural Research Lab at the University of Washington, 1939-1940?

    • Observed motion of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge

      • Description: Tacoma Narrows Bridge--Motion on Bridge

        Views of abnormal undulating motion of the deck of Tacoma Narrows Bridge with cars crossing.

        Original:

        1 film reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; camera original.

        Note on can: #1 Black + White Early motion on bridge. Good picture of disappearing car about middle of reel.

        Original ID number: 1101

        Dates: 1940
        Container: Viewcopy VC653, Item 11
        Location: Pre-Failure Investigation / Observed motion of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
      • Description: Motion on Tacoma Narrows Bridge

        Severe resonance resulting in abnormal undulating motion of the deck Tacoma Narrows Bridge. One car crosses.

        Original:

        1 film reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; camera original.

        Original ID number: 1102

        Dates: 1940
        Container: Viewcopy VC653, Item 12
        Location: Pre-Failure Investigation / Observed motion of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge
      • Description: Tacoma Narrows Bridge--Vertical Motion in Field

        The bridge demonstrates vertical undulating motion as people drive and walk across. Frederick Charnley Smith surveys the motion through a theodolite/transit instrument from a distance.

        Original:

        1 film reel (100 feet) : silent, color/black and white; 16mm ; print with original splices.

        Frederick Charnley Smith, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, worked with Frederick Farquharson at the University of Washington Engineering Experiment Station and collaborated with Farquharson to determine a cause for the unusual motion on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

        Original ID number: 1103

        Dates: 1940
        Container: Viewcopy VC653, Item 13
        Location: Pre-Failure Investigation / Observed motion of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge

    • Laboratory model testing and on-site pre-failure motion of the bridge

    • Fluid dynamics testing of girder shapes and other on-site and lab observations

    • Bridge Pre-Failure Compilation by Tacoma Narrows Camera Shop

      • Description: Tacoma Narrows Bridge--Scenes of Failure and Lab Model at UW, Copy A

        The bridge undulates rapidly before its collapse. Motion slowed to quarter speed for study. A man surveys the rhythm of the oscillating bridge by observing through a theodolite/transit instrument from a distance. A 1/100 scale model of the bridge is tested at the Structural Laboratory at the University of Washington. Circular fairing is added to the model girders to reduce wind load and suppress the vortex around the body of the bridge. Air flow around the girder is studied with the aid of smoke at the site of the bridge. The bridge moves most violently on November 7th, during a wind speed of 42mph.

        Original:

        1 film reel (350 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; print

        Credits

        Photography by B. D. Elliott, T. Harbine Monroe, August Von Boecklin, F. B. Farquharson. Technical description by Professor F. B. Farquharson, Civil Engineering Department, University of Washington. Produced by the Tacoma Camera Shop, Tacoma, Washington.

        The content is the same as item 23, except this copy includes two additional scenes of smoke tests conducted on the model.

        Note on can: My copy #1 B+W Short on end

        Original ID number: 1119

        Dates: 1940?
        Container: Viewcopy VC658, Item 22
        Location: Pre-Failure Investigation / Bridge Pre-Failure Compilation by Tacoma Narrows Camera Shop
      • Description: Tacoma Narrows Bridge--Scenes of Failure and Lab Model at UW, Copy B

        The bridge has abnormal undulating motion before its collapse. Motion slowed to quarter speed for study. A man surveys the rhythm of the oscillating bridge by observing through a theodolite/transit instrument from a distance. A 1/100 scale model of the bridge is tested at the Structural Laboratory at the University of Washington. Circular fairing is added to the model girders to reduce wind load and suppress the vortex around the body of the bridge. Air flow around the girder is studied with the aid of smoke at the site of the bridge. The bridge oscillates as cars drive across it. Title about events on November 7th with wind of 42mph.

        Original:

        1 film reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; print

        The content is the same as item 22, except it is missing smoke tests included at the beginning and end of item 22.

        Note on can: 1 end title removed for replacement on ASCE film (American Society of Civil Engineers).

        Original ID number: 1120

        Dates: 1940?
        Container: Viewcopy VC658, Item 23
        Location: Pre-Failure Investigation / Bridge Pre-Failure Compilation by Tacoma Narrows Camera Shop
      • Description: Tacoma Narrows Bridge

        The bridge has abnormal motion before its collapse. Motion slowed to quarter speed for study. A man surveys the rhythm of the oscillating bridge by observing through a theodolite/transit instrument from a distance. A 1/100 scale model of the bridge is tested at the Structural Laboratory at the University of Washington. Circular fairing is added to the model girders to reduce wind load and suppress the vortex around the body of the bridge. Air flow around the girder is studied with the aid of smoke at the site of the bridge. The bridge moves most violently on 7th November with wind of 42mph.

        Original:

        1 film reel (350 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; print

        Credits

        Photography by B. D. Elliott, T. Harbine Monroe, August Von Boecklin, F. B. Farquharson. Technical description by Professor F. B. Farquharson, Civil Engineering Department, University of Washington. Produced by the Tacoma Camera Shop, Tacoma, Washington.

        There is no Reel Two.

        Original ID number: 1121

        Dates: 1945?
        Container: Viewcopy VC658, Item 24
        Location: Pre-Failure Investigation / Bridge Pre-Failure Compilation by Tacoma Narrows Camera Shop
      • Description: Tacoma Narrows Bridge--Early Motion and Various Models

        Cars drive across the bridge white it oscillates. The motion of the bridge is slowed down to quarter speed for study. In the Structural Laboratory at the University of Washington a 1/100 scale full model of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge replicates the oscillations observed in the field. A 1/20 scale model of suspended structure is tested in a wind tunnel. A man paints a large section of steel. The 1/20 scale model oscillates with a high frequency.

        Original:

        1 film reel (200 feet) : silent, color/black and white; 16mm ; print with original splices

        Note on can: Color. Early motion on bridge with int. title. Fred Smith. Electric model. State wind tunnel model. Japben's model (Stanford), Dunn's Model (Cal Tech)

        Original ID number: 1122

        Dates: between 1940 and 1957?
        Container: Viewcopy VC658, Item 25
        Location: Pre-Failure Investigation / Bridge Pre-Failure Compilation by Tacoma Narrows Camera Shop

  • Failure day footage from November 7, 1940

    Films documenting the failure of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

    • Newsreels

      • Description: News of the Day - Collapse of the Tacoma Bridge!

        Professor Farquharson stands in front of the collapsed bridge. The deck hangs down from the bridge into the water. He speaks to the camera. The bridge resonates violently pre-collapse. Farquharson looks through a Cine Kodak Special camera. Farquharson returns to land from the undulating bridge. Farquharson concludes the news report.

        Original:

        1 film reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; print

        Metro Goldwyn Mayer newsreel.

        Original ID number: 1123

        Dates: 1940
        Container: Viewcopy VC659, Item 26
        Location: Failure day footage from November 7, 1940 / Newsreels
      • Description: Nov. 7, 1940 Narrows Bridge Collapse!

        Short film titled: Nov. 7, 1940 Narrows Bridge Collapse! A man sets up a camera to film the bridge which is oscillating at high amplitude with a node in the center of the main span. The east hold-down shows unwanted movement. Professor Farquharson runs from the lone car on the bridge to land as the bridge collapses behind him. The deck hangs down from the main span in the mid-section of the bridge. A closed toll booth sign blocks access to the collapsed bridge.

        Original:

        1 film reel (400 feet) : silent, color; 16mm ; print with original splices

        Original ID number: 1124

        Dates: 1944?
        Container: Viewcopy VC659, Item 27
        Location: Failure day footage from November 7, 1940 / Newsreels
    • Description: Narrows Bridge Reel Two

      The Tacoma Narrows Bridge oscillates violently with a lone car on its main span. Professor Farquharson sets up a camera. The bridge oscillates as cars drive over it pre-failure.

      Original:

      1 film reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; print with original splices

      Original ID number: 1125

      Dates: 1940?
      Container: Viewcopy VC659, Item 28
      Location: Failure day footage from November 7, 1940
    • Description: Day of Failure

      The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is filmed on the day of its collapse as it oscillates in the wind. A man sets up his camera.

      Original:

      1 film reel (100 feet) : silent, color/black and white; 16mm ; camera original

      Original ID number: 1126

      Dates: 1940
      Container: Viewcopy VC659, Item 29
      Location: Failure day footage from November 7, 1940
    • Description: Mid-Section Pre-Failure

      The deck of the midsection of the bridge undulates and twists violently.

      Original:

      1 film reel (20 feet) : silent, color; 16mm ; print

      Original ID number: 1127

      Dates: 1940
      Container: Viewcopy VC659, Item 30
      Location: Failure day footage from November 7, 1940
    • Description: Narrows Bridge Failure Reel III

      A man sets up a camera to film the bridge which is oscillating at high amplitude with a node in the center of the main span. The east hold-down shows unwanted movement. Professor Farquharson runs from the lone car on the bridge to land as the bridge collapses behind him. The deck hangs down from the main span in the mid-section of the bridge. A closed toll booth sign blocks access to the collapsed bridge. After the collapse, the Public Works Administration (PWA) investigates the bridge remnants, looking at cracked sidewalks and bent metal.

      Original:

      1 film reel (400 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; print

      Original ID number: 1128

      Dates: 1945?
      Container: Viewcopy VC659, Item 31
      Location: Failure day footage from November 7, 1940
    • Description: Pre- and Post-TNB Failure

      An abandoned car on the bridge is rocked up and down as the deck of the bridge oscillates. The roadway moves up and down rapidly. The mid-span of the bridge has collapsed and hangs into the water.

      Original:

      1 film reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; print

      The car belonged to Leonard Coatsworth. His daughter's cocker spaniel, Tubby, was trapped in the car and became the only victim of the bridge collapse. (Hobbs, 2006)

      Original ID number: 1129

      Dates: 1959?
      Container: Viewcopy VC659, Item 32
      Location: Failure day footage from November 7, 1940
    • Description: Bridge Collapse

      The bridge oscillates and twists violently. The deck of the mid-section of the bridge hangs down into the water.

      Original:

      1 film reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; print

      Original ID number: 1130

      Dates: 1940?
      Container: Viewcopy VC659, Item 33
      Location: Failure day footage from November 7, 1940
    • Description: Failure and Post-Failure

      November 7, 1940. Views of the road leading down to the bridge. The bridge spans the narrows. Cars drive over the bridge as the surface moves up and down. Boats bob around in their docks with the bridge in the background. The bridge's mid-span is undulating and twisting rapidly. The mid-span twists more violently. The deck of the mid-span breaks away from the bridge and falls into the water. The damage to the bridge is inspected: steel girders are bent, the roadway is ruptured. The mid-span of the bridge is absent.

      Original:

      1 film reel (100 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; print

      This footage is different than the most common footage of the bridge failure.

      Original ID number: 1131

      Dates: 1959?
      Container: Viewcopy VC659, Item 34
      Location: Failure day footage from November 7, 1940

  • Aftermath: investigations on site

    Films of the aftermath of the bridge collapse. Some investigations were conducted by the Public Works Administration.

    • Description: Inspecting Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse

      The Public Works Administration committee investigates the bent and warped metal after the collapse. Blueprints and a map are examined. A 1/100 scale model bridge oscillates. Newspapers are shown, with headlines reporting on the bridge collapse. A hand opens a filing cabinet.

      Original:

      1 film reel (100 feet) : silent, color; 16mm ; camera original

      Original ID number: 1132

      Dates: 1940?
      Container: Viewcopy VC660, Item 35
      Location: Aftermath: investigations on site
    • Description: Personal Pictures at Crash Site

      Professor Farquharson observes the damaged bridge. Farquharson and the Public Works Administration committee investigate parts of the collapsed Tacoma Narrows bridge.

      Original:

      1 film reel (25 feet) : silent, color; 16mm ; print with original splices

      Original ID number: 1133

      Dates: 1940?
      Container: Viewcopy VC660, Item 36
      Location: Aftermath: investigations on site
    • Description: TNB Failure - Model Setup

      Professor Farquharson observes the entire damaged bridge. Farquharson and the Public Works Administration committee investigate parts of the collapsed Tacoma Narrows bridge. Sizes from blueprints of the bridge are converted with a scale slide rule for model construction. A scale model of the bridge is constructed and weights are added to anchor the ends. The model oscillates. A paper by Professor Farquharson, A Dynamic Model for the Tacoma Narrows Suspension Bridge, is presented to the camera. Two textbooks are presented to the camera, Civil Engineering by American Society of Civil Engineers and Engineering News Record.

      Original:

      1 film reel (200 feet) : silent, color; 16mm ; print

      Original ID number: 1134

      Dates: 1941?
      Container: Viewcopy VC660, Item 37
      Location: Aftermath: investigations on site

  • Fluid dynamics testing

    After the first bridge collapsed, and before the second was built, a series of experiments were conducted to explain the failure of the first bridge and ensure the structural integrity of the second bridge.

  • Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940) Construction, Failure and Testing Compilation Films

  • Film Elements: titles, audio, cuttings

    • Description: Negative Cuttings Tacoma

      A montage of clips from before, during, and after the collapse, with no clear order assigned. The 1/100 scale model in the University of Washington Structural Laboratory oscillates. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge oscillates pre-failure. The bridge oscillates aggressively on its day of failure. People survey the damage. Professor Farquharson observes the entire bridge with a collapsed mid-section. People and cars cross the mildly oscillating bridge before it fails. The camera surveys the remains of the collapsed bridge. A man walks off of the wildly oscillating bridge on the day of collapse. The roadway breaks.

      Original:

      1 film reel (200 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; negative

      Original ID number: 1162

      Dates: between 1939 and 1940?
      Container: Viewcopy VC666, Item 65
      Location: Film Elements: titles, audio, cuttings
    • Description: Titles Tacoma Bridge

      Titles: "Total Collapse; On the morning of November 7 the frequency was 36 cycle per minute with the wind blowing at 42 mph; On the morning of November 7 the frequency was 36 cycle per minute with the wind blowing at 42 mph; The PWA Investigates; Prof. Farquharson risks life to save dog in car; Gail causes bridge to sway; The only damage sustained by the concrete prior to the final failure was in the curb and sidewalk."

      Original:

      1 film reel (50 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm; print

      Original ID number: 1163

      Dates: 1940?
      Container: Viewcopy VC666, Item 66
      Location: Film Elements: titles, audio, cuttings
    • Description: Title Part 1 and 2

      Contains two titles: "End Part 1" and "End Part 2."

      Original:

      1 film reel (10 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; print

      Original ID number: 1164

      Dates: 1945?
      Container: Viewcopy VC666, Item 67
      Location: Film Elements: titles, audio, cuttings
    • Description: Mag: Heartbeat like Sound

      Repetitive "wub wub" sound

      Original:

      1 film reel (10 feet) : sound; 16mm ; magnetic audio

      Original ID number: 1165

      Dates: between 1939 and 1945?
      Container: Viewcopy VC666, Item 68
      Location: Film Elements: titles, audio, cuttings
    • Description: Doppler #3

      Continuous"wub wub" sound.

      Original:

      1 film reel (100 feet) : sound; 16mm ; magnetic audio

      Original ID number: 1166

      Dates: between 1939 and 1945?
      Container: Viewcopy VC666, Item 69
      Location: Film Elements: titles, audio, cuttings

  • Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1950)

    • Description: Narrows Bridge Structural Tests in Lab

      A model made from warren truss oscillates. Two men walk along and point at the model, with one of them taking photos. A man holds his finger by a device being used on the bridge. Farquharson explains the model to a group of four men.

      Original:

      1 film reel (50 feet) : silent, black and white; 16mm ; camera original

      Warren truss was used on the 1950 Tacoma Narrows Bridge

      Original ID number: 1167

      Dates: 1943?
      Container: Viewcopy VC667, Item 70
      Location: Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1950)
    • Description: Tacoma Narrows Bridge Cable Spinning

      Wires are measured. Workers rub their hands to warm up and open their mail. Wires are moved across the bridge by a spinning wheel on a pilot line. A worker climbs along a catwalk to adjust the wire. Snow covers the landscape surrounding the cable anchorage.

      Original:

      1 film reel (200 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm ; camera original

      Camera original, but not from Farquharson's camera. This was the second bridge's construction, determined by the crosses located in the suspension towers, whereas the first one was solid.

      Original ID number: 1168

      Dates: 1949?
      Container: Viewcopy VC667, Item 71
      Location: Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1950)
    • Description: Tacoma Narrows Bridge 2 Construction

      A group of people walk across the partially constructed 1950 bridge. The group pose in front of one of the main cables. Workers tie metal cables to secure the "cable band" around the wires that make up the main cable. The camera examines the warren truss of the bridge from below. Cars drive across the bridge with Mt. Rainier in the background. The bridge is filmed from the perspective of those driving over it. A worker attached to one of the main cables waves to the camera. Cars pass through the toll station. Two men converse. A procession of cars crosses the bridge to celebrate its opening.

      Original:

      1 film reel (300 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm ; camera original

      Original ID number: 1169

      Dates: 1949?
      Container: Viewcopy VC667, Item 72
      Location: Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1950)
    • Description: Cable Spinning

      The 1950 Tacoma Narrows Bridge is opened with a speech and crowds celebrating. A team of people involved in the project pose in front of a main cable during construction. A painted model demonstrates how wires are carried across the span. Reels of wires are processed on site during construction. Wires are moved across the bridge by a spinning wheel on a pilot line. Workers tie the wires together to make the cable. Workers on a catwalk tie metal cables to secure the "cable band" around the wires that make up the main cable. The cables are painted orange. The bridge is operational with Mt Rainier in the background.

      Original:

      1 film reel (800 feet) : sound, color ; 16mm ; print

      Original ID number: 1170

      Dates: 1954
      Container: Viewcopy VC667, Item 73
      Location: Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1950)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Moving Image Collections (University of Washington)
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Farquharson, F. B. (Frederick Burt),


2019 (Last modified: 8/19/2022)

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