Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse
Why did the bridge start dancing?
4.7 (30)
38 mins
Discover the dramatic collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940, just months after it opened. Explore how powerful winds caused the bridge deck to twist and oscillate violently before the structure finally tore itself apart. Alo learn how this disaster transformed the study of bridge design and wind-induced vibrations.
Ep 1:
Galloping Gertie's Fatal Bargain
A cost-cutting bridge design, a silenced whistleblower, and a wind-battered strait collide as Tacoma builds a beautiful bridge nicknamed Galloping Gertie for its unnerving sway.
Ep 2:
The Bridge Dances to Its Death
As torsional winds mount, engineer Farquharson's dire warnings prove true, a reporter crawls to safety, and a terrified dog named Tubby becomes the collapse's lone casualty.
Ep 3:
Sturdy Gertie Rises from the Depths
In the wreckage's aftermath, blame, ruined reputations, and hard-won physics lessons rebuild trust—giving rise to Sturdy Gertie and a legacy resting beneath Puget Sound.
Discussions (5)
Janna
Level 3 · 1 mo agoSo they FIRED the engineer who tried to warn them?! And then the bridge collapsed two weeks later?! 👀
Xylon
Level 7 · 1 mo agoThe part about Eldridge being overruled to save money really hit me. The cheaper option always sounds smart until nature proves otherwise.
Zane
Level 4 · 1 mo ago40mph wind confirmed. that's genuinely not a major storm
