Photographs of the Construction of the 1950 Tacoma Narrows Bridge, 1948-1950
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Collection
- Historical Background
- Content Description
- Use of the Collection
- Administrative Information
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Detailed Description of the Collection
- Machine holding strands of suspension cables during the construction of the Current Tacoma Narrows Bridge, between 1948 and 1950
- Workers on catwalks guiding a hydraulic press compacting the main cable into a cylindrical shape, between 1948 and 1950
- Compacted main cable and catwalk from the deck to the top of a tower, between 1948 and 1950
- Catwalk next to main cable showing suspender cable band and suspender cables, between 1948 and 1950
- Main cable with suspender band shown from above with catwalk in background, between 1948 and 1950
- Main cable overlooking deck truss with walkway of wooden beams down the center, between 1948 and 1950
- Aerial view of bridge workers on the center wooden walkway of the deck below, between 1948 and 1950
- Wooden beams placed across the center of the metal deck truss, between 1948 and 1950
- Tower and center wooden walkway with concrete laid at the side of the wooden beams, between 1948 and 1950
- Reinforced concrete drying on the deck with both towers visible in the background, between 1948 and 1950
- Material covering large areas of the center wooden walkway and deck trusses, between 1948 and 1950
- Aerial view of the end of bridge with concrete sections of the deck visible and the ramp leading to the bridge under construction, between 1948 and 1950
- Full span of Tacoma Narrows Bridge from lateral view nearing the end of its construction, between 1948 and 1950
- Construction materials on a side road near the end ramp of the Current Tacoma Narrows Bridge in the last stages of bridge construction, between 1948 and 1950
- "Narrows Bridge Data" fact sheet listing dimensions and weights of bridge and various components, between 1948 and 1950
- Names and Subjects
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Photographs of the Construction of the 1950 Tacoma Narrows Bridge
- Dates
- 1948-1950 (inclusive)19481950
- Quantity
- 18 photographs and 1 handwritten document (1 folder)
- Collection Number
- PH1473
- Summary
- Photographs of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge being rebuilt after its collapse in 1940.
- Repository
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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
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Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals.
- Languages
- English
Historical Background
Construction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge began in November 1938 and the bridge opened on July 1, 1940 to public acclaim. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge was lauded as an essential economic and military portal to Washington state's Olympic Peninsula, and 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, had the third largest span of all suspension bridges in the world. Immediately upon completion it began swaying in the wind, which earned it the nickname “Galloping Gertie.” On November 7, 1940, four months after it opened to the public, the bridge fell in what was later called "the Pearl Harbor of engineering." A new Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened on October 14, 1950 after 29 months of construction. It was the fifth longest suspension bridge in the United States. Located on State Route 16 between Tacoma and Gig Harbor, the bridge is 5,979 feet in length – 40 feet longer than its predecessor. The Washington State Department of Transportation calls the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge the "1940 Narrows Bridge." The bridge completed in 1950 is commomly called the "Current Narrows Bridge." The newest bridge, which commenced construction in 2002 and was scheduled for completion in 2007, is commonly called the "2007 Narrows Bridge."
Photos in Conservation Lab, May 2017.
Content Description
Photographs of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge being rebuilt after its collapse. Includes a handwritten fact sheet titled "Narrows Bridge Data" listing dimensions and weights of bridge and various components.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available
View the digital version of the collection
Restrictions on Use
Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.
Administrative Information
Return to TopDetailed Description of the Collection
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Description: Machine holding strands of suspension cables during the construction of the Current Tacoma Narrows BridgeDates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 1
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Description: Workers on catwalks guiding a hydraulic press compacting the main cable into a cylindrical shapeDates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 2-4
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Dates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 5
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Dates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 6
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Dates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 7
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Dates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 8
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Description: Aerial view of bridge workers on the center wooden walkway of the deck below
On item 10: significant area of damage at top center of photo
Dates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 9-11 -
Dates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 12
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Dates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 13
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Dates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 14
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Dates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 15
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Description: Aerial view of the end of bridge with concrete sections of the deck visible and the ramp leading to the bridge under construction
Tear on surface of center left side of photo and blue stain at center
Dates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 16 -
Description: Full span of Tacoma Narrows Bridge from lateral view nearing the end of its constructionDates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 17
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Dates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 18
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Description: "Narrows Bridge Data" fact sheet listing dimensions and weights of bridge and various componentsDates: between 1948 and 1950Container: Folder 1, Item 19
