In Science we are learning all about Structures. One day in class we had a discussion about the Tacoma Narrows bridge which opened on July 1, 1940. At the time it was the third longest suspension bridge in the world. The longest suspension bridge was the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco and the second longest was the George Washington bridge in New York.

When the bridge was being constructed construction workers noticed that in windy conditions the bridge deck started to move vertically. The construction workers gave it the nickname ‘Galloping Gertie’. On November 7, 1940 the wind rose to a speed of 64 km/h and the bridge began to vibrate violently. Leonard Coatsworth was a Tacoma News Tribune editor and the last person to drive over the bridge. He was forced to flee his car and leave behind his terrified dog Tubby.

There was no loss of human life in the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows bridge, however Mr. Coatsworth lost his car and his black cocker spaniel. Mr. Coatsworth received US $450.00 for his car and $364.40 for the contents of his car which included Tubby. The cause of failure was aeroelastic flutter and it has influenced the design of many long suspension bridges since 1940. The bridge is often discussed in Engineering and Science classes. In class we will be working in small groups and using spaghetti and white glue to build our own bridges.