Bridge of the Week: Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate is a 1600 meter wide straight that connects San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. Before the Golden Gate Bridge was built, the only practical route between San Francisco and Marin County was by a boat across the bay around what it now known as Presidio Park. Ferry services traveled back and forth starting as early as 1820.

When the Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world with its total length of 8,981 ft. The weight of the roadway is hung by two cables and includes two art-deco themed towers. The bridge is also well known for its unique orange color, which was suggested by Irving Morrow. An incredibly popular sight among local millennials and tourists alike, travellers from around the world make it a point to visit this impressive piece of architecture, while nearby pedestrians and bicyclists enjoy the amazing views from its walkways. Many breathtaking and iconic photographs are taken of the bridge as it emerges from the bay’s heavy, eerie fog.

The chief engineer and designer of the Golden Gate Bridge was Joseph Strauss. Construction officially began on January 5, 1933 and the project was finished and opened May 27, 1937. The building of the bridge was a colossal task requiring thousands of workers, and the cost of the construction was to be funded by the bridge’s future tolls.

Through the years, the Golden Gate Bridge has received much recognition for its stunning appearance and technical masterpiece. In 1999, it was ranked fifth on the list of America’s Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.