Built: 1933-1937 Cost: $74,000,000 Type: Bridge Maximum Height: 746 feet / 227 meters Maximum length: 1.7 miles / 2.74 kilometers San Francisco, United States
A massive, yet majestic span over the Golden Gate Strait, this is the structure that people in San Francisco most identify their city with. There are several popular myths that surround the bridge. First, it is not painted gold. It is orange; "International Orange," specifically. Some also believe the bridge is painted every year. This is not true, either. It has only been painted twice: once in 1937 and again from 1965-1995. However, touch-up work is a constant necessity because of the fog and salt air. There is another myth that the Golden Gate Bridge is the biggest bridge in the world. This was true for a few years between 1937 and 1964. When the Verazanno Narrows Bridge was built between Brooklyn and Staten Island in New York, it claimed that title. Since then, even the New York span has been surpassed by bridges in Asia and Scandinavia. The Golden Gate Bridge has become a vital link for millions of people as San Francisco emerged as an urban metropolis. Though other bridges may be larger, or taller, few are more loved, and with the exception of the Brooklyn Bridge, no bridge in America is as famous.
The bridge is 220 feet above the water.
The bridge weighs 887,000 tons.
30 people fell off the bridge during its construction. 11 died. The rest were caught by safety nets.
Workers had to wear special hand and face cream during construction because of the wind.
41,381,000 vehicles crossed the bridge during the 1997 fiscal year.
June, 2001 - The American Society of Civil Engineers has named several structures "Monuments of the Millennium." Included on the list are the Panama Canal, the Empire State Building, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Following the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Golden Gate Bridge is having a hard time buying reasonable insurance. Before the attacks, the San Francisco Bridge District paid US$500,000.00 a year for $125,000,000.00 worth of coverage which included terrorist attack. Now the district will have to pay twice as much, but not be covered for terrorist incidents.
11 August, 2002 - The bridge is placed on "super-heightened" alert because of a credible terrorist threat. The Contra Costa Times reports that the FBI thinks terrorists might try to crash a plane into the span.
13 August, 2002 - A construction workers plummets to his death from the bridge. He was working on a US$160,000,000.00 earthquake resistance project when he fell.
10 October, 2002 - The Golden Gate Bridge District needs help with its budget deficit. KPIX-TV reports the District has decided to collect voluntary tolls from pedestrians and bicyclists. Right now walkers and bikers don't have to pay to cross the bridge, but if they want to help out, toll takers will take their money
ty rowles
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 @ 9:26am
Rating: One star. I believe it is extremely important as a part of our history, but like all things in our country, it is blown up and distorted into something that it isnt. it was designed with brawn first, then brain. i think we should, now more than ever, cut back with making something look good, and try to make it functional for once.
MissouriMike
Friday, August 10th, 2007 @ 11:49am
Rating: Five stars. Are you kidding me? This is the most beautiful & famous bridge on the planet bar none!!
Barbara Bloomfield
Friday, April 14th, 2006 @ 4:09pm
Went over the bridge for the first time last week. Truly amazing! Massive and graceful. Can someone tell me what is the streaky (foliated?) green stone that is the base of some of the statues and facing on some of the walls at the viewing area on the north side of the bridge? Is it greenschist from the Franciscan formation?
Jorgito
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2005 @ 1:30pm
Perfection
Doreen Foong
Wednesday, July 6th, 2005 @ 9:01pm
Rating: Five stars. The best way to experience the magnificence of the bridge is by walking on it and feeling the breeze in your face, at the same time, be awed by how the bridge glows in the sun. Certainly worth a visit.
Peter + John
Friday, May 13th, 2005 @ 9:59pm
Rating: One star. weve been to San Francisco and this was one of the things where you think it will be great but it turns out not to be.
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ty rowles
One star.
Five stars.
Doreen Foong