Catastrophe to Triumph: Bridges of the Tacoma Narrows

By Richard S. Hobbs

Just 129 days after it opened, the $6.4 million Tacoma Narrows Bridge plunged to a watery grave on November 7, 1940. Even before completion, the engineering marvel's tendency to undulate was apparent, earning it the nickname "Galloping Gertie." Still, many of those involved claimed to be utterly stunned by the failure. In Catastrophe to Triumph, Richard S. Hobbs examines the real reasons government agencies hired a New York firm to fatefully revise the first set of plans. He reveals who knew about the imminent danger, what was being done to prevent a disaster, and why it was too little, too late. He recounts the final calamitous hours and harrowing escapes. In the aftermath, he explores the lawsuits, the insurance scam, the formal investigation, the heartbreak of ruined careers, and more. Yet ultimately, the story ends in triumph. Hobbs describes how a magnificent new 1950 bridge rose on the original substructure, along with details about the most recent Narrows span, scheduled to open in 2007. He explains the design changes that ensure stability and the incredible maintenance these intricate machines require. Prepared in cooperation with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874222893
• ISBN13: 9780874222890
• Release Date: December 2006
• Publisher: Washington State University Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 1.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 9.0" x 10.5"

Customer Reviews

Written to be accessible to lay readers as well as engineers

Written by historian Richard S. Hobbs Ph.D., Catastrophe to Triumph: Bridges of the Tacoma Narrows is a fascinating examination of the true story behind the Tacoma Narrows Bridge fiasco. In 1940, just 129 days after its creation, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge literally fell apart. Yet the flaws in its workmanship were apparent well before its spontaneous destruction - its undulations were so readily visible that it earned the nickname "Galloping Gertie". Catastrophe to Triumph reveals the inside story of government agencies that hired a New York firm to revise the original plans, who knew about the immediate danger, and why too little was done too late to prevent the bridge's final doom. Catastrophe to Triumph also recounts how a second bridge built on part of the original substructure succeeded while the first one failed. Written to be accessible to lay readers as well as engineers, and filled cover to cover with vintage black-and-white photographs, Catastrophe to Triumph is a gem of American monument and engineering history.