Tacoma Narrows Collapse, 1940

5 months ago
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This 1940 footage captures the dramatic collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, dubbed "Galloping Gertie," on November 7 in Washington’s Puget Sound. Shot in Kodachrome by Barney Elliott and Harbine Monroe, it shows the suspension bridge twisting violently in 40-mph winds before plunging into the water, leaving only Tubby the dog as a casualty. The third-longest span of its time, its failure due to aeroelastic flutter reshaped bridge engineering, spotlighting aerodynamics in design.

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