"Galloping Gertie," as the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge was nicknamed, was completed with great fanfare on July 1st--and collapsed just four months later during a wild wind storm that exacerbated it's unusual, undulating motion.
A totally redesigned Tacoma Narrows Bridge was opened in 1950 and has provided an essential transportation link between Tacoma and the Olympic Peninsula since then.
During the 1970's and 1980's, an influx of shopping malls drew retailer stores, and their customers, away from downtown Tacoma. The city core began to wither, but recently politicians and investors have worked together to rebuild the City of Destiny.
Theatres, museums, art galleries, antique shops, and specialty stores are revitalizing the heart of the city. Adjacent to the restored Union Station landmark, a new Washington State History Museum opened in August 1996 with interactive and multimedia exhibits.
Across the street, the University of Washington is constructing a large Tacoma campus that will open in 1997 and provide a major economic boost to the city.
The Tacoma Dome, the world's largest wood-domed arena, has been drawing major sports, entertainment, and exhibition events since opening in 1983.
Tacoma was named by Money Magazine in 1990 as the fourth best place to live in the nation. Today it continues it's revival as a city with rich cultural history, booming port trade and increasing attractions for residents and visitors alike.
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