Golden Gate Bridge

History

The idea of a bridge connecting San Francisco with Marin County (then only connected by ferry) was conceived in 1917. It's hard to believe today with our computer models and 3D graphics, but it took engineer Joseph Strauss a decade to convince the city's commissioners that his mathematics were sound and that his plan for the bridge was feasible.

Construction began in January, 1933 and it continued for four years. The construction resulted in many fewer workmen deaths (only 11) than similar projects due to the use of a safety net that hung beneath the span. The $35 million needed to build the bridge was raised by selling bearer bonds. The last bonds were retired in 1971, the capital and $39 million in interest all generated from the bridge tolls.

The bridge was surpassed as the world's longest bridge in 1964, with the opening of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, connecting Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City.

A small statue of Joseph Strauss was added near the foot of the bridge in 1955, a reminder of Mr. Strauss' work in creating the bridge.

The Structure

The Golden Gate Bridge is 4200 feet (1.7 miles) long, 90 feet wide, and stands 746 feet above the water. Over 7260 feet of cable was used to build the bridge and each of the two towers is put together with 600,000 rivets.

The distinctive orange vermilion color, called "International Orange," was chosen to blend in with the bridge's natural surroundings and to be visible through the omnipresent fog. Today, 38 painters and 17 iron workers are employed full-time to maintain the bridge.

The bridge has only been closed to traffic three times since it opened in 1937, twice because of high winds and for its 50th anniversary in 1987, when only pedestrian traffic was allowed.

The Golden Gate Bridge in Popular Culture

The Golden Gate Bridge has been featured in dozens of films, books, and television shows. Among the most popular are the films: "Dirty Harry," the "Love Bug" movies, "Superman," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and "Vertigo" and the TV shows: "Nash Bridges," "Full House," "Knight Rider," and "Monk."

Visiting the Golden Gate Bridge

Over 100,000 vehicles cross the Golden Gate Bridge each day. The bridge has six lanes of traffic as well as pedestrian walkways and bike lanes on each side. Walking across the bridge is a great way to experience the majesty of the Golden Gate Bridge. Pedestrians are free and walkers are only allowed on the bridge during daylight hours, for safety reasons. Bicycles are allowed on the bridge during scheduled hours. They, too, are free. Vehicles traveling northbound cross the bridge for free, but there is a $5 toll for southbound traffic.

Two vista points, one on the south side and one on the north, give visitors a chance to see the bridge up-close. Both sites have restrooms, parking (metered on the south side and free on the north), and telescopes. The south side has a gift shop and a small museum with exhibits including a cross section of one of the cables.