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75th anniversary for two famous Washington bridges

75th anniversary for two famous Washington bridges

  Construction of the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which opened in July 1940. (Photos courtesy of Washington State Archives) This is Washington’s tale of two bridges. Opening just one day apart in July 1940, 75 years ago, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Lake Washington Floating Bridge both galvanized human movement and economic prosperity in Washington state. They foreshadowed the developing prowess of Washington. However, this growth was not without its pains. Both bridges were engineering marvels. The Tacoma Narrows…

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Archives photos capture opening of two key bridges

Archives photos capture opening of two key bridges

(Photos courtesy of Washington State Archives) Back in 1940, the first week of July was a busy time for bridge dedications in our state. July 1 marks the anniversary when the first Narrows Bridge (photo above) between Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula was dedicated in 1940. However, that bridge lasted only four months. On Nov. 7, 1940, “Galloping Gertie” collapsed in a windstorm. Fortunately, there was no loss of human life during the disaster, although a dog named Tubby perished. …

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