The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Funsite
E-Mail: The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Funsite

This Funsite is dedicated to, and celebrates over half a century of engineering marvels and mishaps of three bridges that span a mile's distance across the Tacoma, Washington Narrows waterway. The information presented here is from an educated, but novice Bridge fan who has become knowledgeable on the history & facts the hard way- by spending much energy, effort, time, and money to research & collect the many items you see.
As more Info, Collectibles- or *Bridgeabilia, and **Photos are gathered; the additions will be added to the website, so please visit again, Comments about this fun site, and contacts for adding to the site can be done by clicking on the e-mail link above.
Most recent website update was done on January 3, 2009
See the "What's New" section for the new updates list
You are visitor since the site was started in July 2007
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Funsite, Copyright 2009.
*Bridgeabilia is Copyright 2009, The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Funsite.
**All photos are copyrighted, and may not be copied or reproduced in part or whole without expressed written consent.
Click Here to see The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Funsite Flickr Photostream

If you would like to participate, or have a contribution or suggestion just click on the email button below. Also, if you have a Narrows Bridge item you would like to sell just click on the email button below with a brief description of what you have. Thank you!

Special thanks go to several people that have given their expertise and assistance in making this website, and some of the information & photos possible.
* Richard S. Hobbs has been an invaluable source of knowledge & photos, having researched & written an excellent book on the bridges, "Catastrophe To Triumph".
* Vicki Blackwell, the Curator of the Harbor History Museum has been very helpful with allowing access to not only the wealth of information in the Museum's archives, but also with original photos that helped in research. You can participate by supporting the Museum.
Donate to the Harbor History Museum Here
Join the Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society Here
* Earl R. White, one of the ironworkers that built the 1950 bridge has been remarkable with his first-hand knowledge & experience, and he has provided insight into bridge construction as well as identifying relics and some time-frames of events.
* John V. Robinson has been a great help with identifying relics and related photos, previously being an ironworker, and now a photographer who has published several beautiful books on bridges, including his "Bridging The Tacoma Narrows".
* Randy McCarthy of the Tacoma News Tribune has helped with research, photos, and in particular- providing the inspiration that led to relics recovery. The TNT has published a wonderful Narrows Bridges book titled "Masters of Suspension".
* Dave Hastings of the Washington State Archives has been a great assistance with providing info on the bridges from the State's vast resources, including spending many hours copying original blueprints from Moisseiff, Eldridge, Pacific Car & Foundry, and Bethlehem Steel for my research.
* George Bourcier and Bill from Tacoma Trains & Hobbies provided expert knowledge on the products and methods used to construct the 1940 Bridge scale model, which has been a resounding success; having been shown in a Tacoma News Tribune article and the Puyallup Fair. Bill also provided knowledge of the internet & helpful tools in having this website be seen.
* My eldest daughter, Crystal with her college education in graphic technologies, has been the source of much of the HTML programming which made this website possible.
* The Washington State Department of Transportation has been a great source of info and some photos, as well as giving permission for some of my photographing the activities at a close proximity. And the State's web cameras are always fun to look at- though some might think it a bit strange; I like to watch the traffic across the bridges!
* Joe Gotchy's book "Bridging the Narrows" by the Peninsula Historical Society has provided an understanding of assembly tasks & procedures with both the 1940 and 1950 bridges. Though he has passed away; his writings and photos continue to be of great importance.
* The University of Washington has a large collection of photos, which have been very helpful to place locations and identify parts that have been recovered.
* The Tacoma Public Library also has been very helpful with their large collection of newspaper photos that originally were donated to the Library by the local newspapers, including the TNT.
* A postumous thank you to the 1940 bridge engineer, Clark Eldridge for his blueprints, which have been invaluable for identifying placement & parts of relics recovered, and showing viewers the designs of these relics.
* Many nice folks have donated some items seen in the Bridgeabilia & Tacoma History sections.
* And, of course, the viewers of the website are to be thanked as well. Your interest and participation is what this is all about.