(Photos courtesy Washington State Archives)

Throughout October, our State Archives is playing tribute to Washington’s historic bridges as documented in its collections as it celebrates Archives Month.

In fact, this year’s free Archives Month poster features a dozen photos of historic WA bridges.

Today we are featuring two photos of the infamous first Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which collapsed in a windstorm on Nov. 7, 1940, just months after opening . The top photo shows early construction of the bridge in 1939. The bottom image features two people walking on one of the bridge’s main cables just nine days after the collapse of “Galloping Gertie.”

You can pick up a printed copy of this year’s Archives Month poster at our State Archives headquarters in Olympia, any of the regional branches in Bellevue, Bellingham, Cheney and Ellensburg, the Secretary of State’s main office at the Capitol in Olympia, local historical societies, universities with archives/library collections, museums and heritage centers.

Need another reason to visit our State Archives or one of its regional branches? All are hosting free open houses or historical research workshops this Saturday morning. Go here for more details.