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Historic Look at Tacoma's Murray Morgan Bridge

Published: Feb. 8, 2013 at 12:12 p.m. PST
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  • Construction on the East 11th Street Bridge began in July 1911 and was officially opened and dedicated in February 1913, drawing a crowd of over 10,000 and motion picture cameras from Hollywood to cover the event. The bridge was designed by John Alexander Low Waddell and cost approximately $550,000 to build. View of the 11th Street Bridge with Mount Rainier in background. (RICHARDS STUDIO COLLECTION)
    Construction on the East 11th Street Bridge began in July 1911 and was officially opened and dedicated in February 1913, drawing a crowd of over 10,000 and motion picture cameras from Hollywood to cover the event. The bridge was designed by John Alexander Low Waddell and cost approximately $550,000 to build. View of the 11th Street Bridge with Mount Rainier in background. (RICHARDS STUDIO COLLECTION)
  • The contract to build the first steel bridge to span the Foss waterway at the foot of South 11th Street was let in 1894 and construction was completed in 1895 at a cost of $90,000. An article from the Tacoma Daily Ledger dated Feb. 1, 1895 stated: 'In its relation to the future greatness of Tacoma, the erection of the bridge is perhaps the most important public work since the first train came through the Stampede tunnel.' In this view, dating from around 1903, long lines of employees from the many businesses on the tideflats stream across the bridge toward downtown Tacoma. The first 11th Street Bridge was closed in 1911; it was replaced by the more modern, 'vertical lift' Murray Morgan Bridge. (RICHARDS STUDIO COLLECTION)
    The contract to build the first steel bridge to span the Foss waterway at the foot of South 11th Street was let in 1894 and construction was completed in 1895 at a cost of $90,000. An article from the Tacoma Daily Ledger dated Feb. 1, 1895 stated: 'In its relation to the future greatness of Tacoma, the erection of the bridge is perhaps the most important public work since the first train came through the Stampede tunnel.' In this view, dating from around 1903, long lines of employees from the many businesses on the tideflats stream across the bridge toward downtown Tacoma. The first 11th Street Bridge was closed in 1911; it was replaced by the more modern, 'vertical lift' Murray Morgan Bridge. (RICHARDS STUDIO COLLECTION)
  • Undated File Photo of the 11th Street Bridge's deck. (THE NEWS TRIBUNE FILE)
    Undated File Photo of the 11th Street Bridge's deck. (THE NEWS TRIBUNE FILE)
  • This is an aerial southeastern view of the downtown Tacoma business district and portion of the industrial Tideflats that was taken in August of 1948. Two boats are approaching the 11th Street Bridge (now Murray Morgan Bridge), left center, as it extends over the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. The two bridges pictured to the right of the Murray Morgan Bridge have since been removed. Prominent structures also include the 17-story, Art Deco-styled Medical Arts Building (now Tacoma Municipal Building) on Market St., the massive Washington Building and Puget Sound National Bank with its spire, both on Pacific Avenue. This is an aerial southeastern view of the downtown Tacoma business district and portion of the industrial Tideflats that was taken in August of 1948. Two boats are approaching the 11th Street Bridge (now Murray Morgan Bridge), left center, as it extends over the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. The two bridges pictured to the right of the Murray Morgan Bridge have since been removed. Prominent structures also include the 17-story, Art Deco-styled Medical Arts Building (now Tacoma Municipal Building) on Market St., the massive Washington Building and Puget Sound National Bank with its spire, both on Pacific Avenue. (RICHARDS STUDIO COLLECTION)
    This is an aerial southeastern view of the downtown Tacoma business district and portion of the industrial Tideflats that was taken in August of 1948. Two boats are approaching the 11th Street Bridge (now Murray Morgan Bridge), left center, as it extends over the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. The two bridges pictured to the right of the Murray Morgan Bridge have since been removed. Prominent structures also include the 17-story, Art Deco-styled Medical Arts Building (now Tacoma Municipal Building) on Market St., the massive Washington Building and Puget Sound National Bank with its spire, both on Pacific Avenue. This is an aerial southeastern view of the downtown Tacoma business district and portion of the industrial Tideflats that was taken in August of 1948. Two boats are approaching the 11th Street Bridge (now Murray Morgan Bridge), left center, as it extends over the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. The two bridges pictured to the right of the Murray Morgan Bridge have since been removed. Prominent structures also include the 17-story, Art Deco-styled Medical Arts Building (now Tacoma Municipal Building) on Market St., the massive Washington Building and Puget Sound National Bank with its spire, both on Pacific Avenue. (RICHARDS STUDIO COLLECTION)
  • Workers ride on a piece of the bridge as it is lifted in to place. (THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    Workers ride on a piece of the bridge as it is lifted in to place. (THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
  • A view from near the top of the 11th Street Bridge Sept. 25, 1966. (THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    A view from near the top of the 11th Street Bridge Sept. 25, 1966. (THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
  • Workers on the 11th Styreet Bridge June 24, 1979. (THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    Workers on the 11th Styreet Bridge June 24, 1979. (THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
  • Traffic crosses the 11th Street Bridge on March 8, 1975. (THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    Traffic crosses the 11th Street Bridge on March 8, 1975. (THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
  • Murray Morgan made Seattle and Tacoma history come alive in his books, Skid Road and South on the Sound. He was a noted writer, historian, journalist and teacher. A selection of thirty years of his essays can be read on the Northwest Room's web page, in the Murray's People segment. Tacoma's 11th Street Bridge has been renamed in honor of Mr. Morgan, who passed away in 2000. (RICHARDS STUDIO COLLECTION)
    Murray Morgan made Seattle and Tacoma history come alive in his books, Skid Road and South on the Sound. He was a noted writer, historian, journalist and teacher. A selection of thirty years of his essays can be read on the Northwest Room's web page, in the Murray's People segment. Tacoma's 11th Street Bridge has been renamed in honor of Mr. Morgan, who passed away in 2000. (RICHARDS STUDIO COLLECTION)
  • After recent re-cabling work the Murry Morgan Bridge, which closed to all traffic last month and to motorist in 2007, reopened to pedestrians and bicyclists, in Tacoma, Wednesday morning, March 31, 2010. Built in 1913 the bridge isn't scheduled to reopen to motorists until 2013. (JANET L JENSEN)
    After recent re-cabling work the Murry Morgan Bridge, which closed to all traffic last month and to motorist in 2007, reopened to pedestrians and bicyclists, in Tacoma, Wednesday morning, March 31, 2010. Built in 1913 the bridge isn't scheduled to reopen to motorists until 2013. (JANET L JENSEN)
  • Workers for Purcell Painting & Coatings look like spiders in a wb of steel as they began installation of a 'Safe Span,' construction platform underneath the Murray Morgan Bridge spanning the Foss Waterway in Tacoma Thursday June 9, 2011. The platform will allow crews to safely sand blast the bridge's steel members to remove and contain old layers of paint , some of which contain lead. ****According to the City of Tacoma's Murray Morgan Bridge web page the 'work to paint the Murray Morgan Bridge will commence.' on June 15th. ***the following graph is also from the web site 'Removal of the paint requires extensive sandblasting which will take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sandblasting will result in increased noise levels in the vicinity of the bridge. The first section of the bridge to be painted is the east fixed truss. Other sections will follow over the next year. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    Workers for Purcell Painting & Coatings look like spiders in a wb of steel as they began installation of a 'Safe Span,' construction platform underneath the Murray Morgan Bridge spanning the Foss Waterway in Tacoma Thursday June 9, 2011. The platform will allow crews to safely sand blast the bridge's steel members to remove and contain old layers of paint , some of which contain lead. ****According to the City of Tacoma's Murray Morgan Bridge web page the 'work to paint the Murray Morgan Bridge will commence.' on June 15th. ***the following graph is also from the web site 'Removal of the paint requires extensive sandblasting which will take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sandblasting will result in increased noise levels in the vicinity of the bridge. The first section of the bridge to be painted is the east fixed truss. Other sections will follow over the next year. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • Two days after winds blew off much of the protective covering over the Murray Morgan bridge contract crew have yet to fix the plastic, in Tacoma, Tuesday morning, September 27, 2011. The covering was a containment system to protect the environment from lead contamination as old paint was sandblasted from the bridge as part of a $57 million renovation project. On Sunday Joe Meinecke of the Tacoma Fire Department said the dust seen billowing off the Murray Morgan Bridge is no cause for concern. 'The process that blasts the paint off the bridge 'inerts' the lead,' Meinecke said. (JANET JENSEN)
    Two days after winds blew off much of the protective covering over the Murray Morgan bridge contract crew have yet to fix the plastic, in Tacoma, Tuesday morning, September 27, 2011. The covering was a containment system to protect the environment from lead contamination as old paint was sandblasted from the bridge as part of a $57 million renovation project. On Sunday Joe Meinecke of the Tacoma Fire Department said the dust seen billowing off the Murray Morgan Bridge is no cause for concern. 'The process that blasts the paint off the bridge 'inerts' the lead,' Meinecke said. (JANET JENSEN)
  • Workers from PCL Constructors, Inc. install the NW corner sheave (pulley) atop a tower of the Murray Morgan Bridge over the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma, Washington, Friday night, November 19, 2012. Cables over the four sheaves support the moveable span in the drawbridge. photo by Curtis Earl / PCL Construction Services, Inc. (CURTIS EARL/CURTIS EARL / PCL Construction S)
    Workers from PCL Constructors, Inc. install the NW corner sheave (pulley) atop a tower of the Murray Morgan Bridge over the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma, Washington, Friday night, November 19, 2012. Cables over the four sheaves support the moveable span in the drawbridge. photo by Curtis Earl / PCL Construction Services, Inc. (CURTIS EARL/CURTIS EARL / PCL Construction S)
  • stock: Tacoma, Murray Morgan Bridge (Eleventh Street Bridge) February 3, 2013 Peter Haley / Staff photographer. (PETER HALEY/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    stock: Tacoma, Murray Morgan Bridge (Eleventh Street Bridge) February 3, 2013 Peter Haley / Staff photographer. (PETER HALEY/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • Pedestrians and cyclists enjoy the reopening of the Murray Morgan Bridge after a nearly six year closure. The bridge, which connects downtown Tacoma with the Tideflats reopened to traffic at 12:21 p.m. Friday, February 1, 2013. (JANET JENSEN)
    Pedestrians and cyclists enjoy the reopening of the Murray Morgan Bridge after a nearly six year closure. The bridge, which connects downtown Tacoma with the Tideflats reopened to traffic at 12:21 p.m. Friday, February 1, 2013. (JANET JENSEN)

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