Presented by Erich Ebel, Historian

On Wednesday, January 3rd, 1923, Cowlitz County Commissioner-elect Benjamin Barr sat in the back seat of his vehicle, when his driver, Arleigh Millard, felt an unsettling shudder through the springs in his seat. Miller glanced nervously at Barr through the rear-view mirror, unable to move the vehicle forward. The pair were stuck atop the Allen Street Bridge in Kelso, Washington. Seconds later it all came crashing down, resulting in the deadliest bridge collapse in Washington history. Join us to learn more about this historic Washington tragedy, including the causes and consequences of the deadly disaster.

About the Speaker:

Erich Ebel has lived on the green side as well as the brown side. He’s navigated the rivers and climbed the mountains. He’s fished its lakes, hiked its trails, marveled at its geology, and studied it’s fascinating, storied history to help share it with the world. Erich has spent the past ten years discovering and sharing stories about Washington’s history, heritage, and culture. His blog, videos, and podcasts hold a treasure trove of interesting facts, unknown facets, and fascinating tales that help to educate the general public about the privileges of being in Washington.

As the principal of Washington, Our Home consulting, Erich is dedicated to assisting the state’s cultural institutions in preserving and promoting their own stories by expanding and enriching the experience of their audiences. From logos to local history curriculum, strategy to social media, and news releases to new technologies, Washington, Our Home has the professional skills to help cultural community organizations reach a larger and more diverse audience, generate new heritage tourism dollars in local economies, and promote local history worldwide. Visit http://washingtonourhome.com/ for more information.

Photo Courtesy: Washington, Our Home

These monthly, free events are open to everyone interested in Oregon and Pacific Northwest history. Co-sponsored by like-minded historical and civic organizations, we bring you experts, scholars, first-person experiencers and historians who expound on topics from Lewis and Clark to shipwrecks, hop growing to women pioneers and far, far beyond. It's like being back in the classroom - except this time you get to settle into comfortable seats and enjoy a drink or two with dinner while you listen and learn.

This event is eligible for a History Pub Stamp