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The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse
An Amateur Cameraman 5 minutes, 14±
Tacoma Narrows is near Seattle in Washington State, north-west USA and is exposed to westerly winds from the Pacific Ocean. The construction of a suspension bridge across the narrows began on November 23, 1938 and on July 1, 1940, the bridge was opened to traffic. On November 7, 1940, in 'moderate winds', the bridge developed a resonant torsional oscillation and after seventy minutes the central span collapsed. An amateur cameraman, using 8mm film, made a brief record of part of the construction, the ceremonial opening and the events of November 7. It is fortunate he had just enough film to witness the climax of the day's events. Statistics: length of centre span - 2800ft (854m)/width of centre span - 39ft (11 .9m) / depth of longitudinal girders - 8ft (2.44m).
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