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# Why the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was nicknamed Galloping Gertie
- URL: https://www.cascadepbs.org/show/mossbacks-northwest-2/episode/why-the-tacoma-narrows-bridge-was-nicknamed-galloping-gertie-zj5x20/
- Published: 2024-04-02T23:10:11.000Z
- Updated: 2025-10-10T11:08:43.000Z
- Description: The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is one of the epic civil engineering failures of all time.
- Author: Cascade PBS Staff
- Tags: Mossback's Northwest, Season 2, Episode 13, #ZZZ_Episode_5ec23726-312d-44d7-860f-abd87bc64ca8, #episode, #ZZZ_Show_50744e68-2011-417f-9f73-f880b010d33f, #v1.16

Immediately after the August 1940 grand opening of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, motorists and engineers alike realized that something was not quite right with it. The bridge deck undulated in waves, up and down, and the bridge was quickly nicknamed "Galloping Gertie."