A marvel of modern engineering, the Golden Gate Bridge is 1.7 miles long and 90 feet wide. Its 4,200-foot main span between the two towers was the longest for a suspension bridge until 1981, while its 746-foot towers made it the tallest bridge of any type until 1993.
What special features does the Golden Gate Bridge have?
Golden Gate Bridge, suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate in California to link San Francisco with Marin county to the north. Upon its completion in 1937, it was the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world. The Golden Gate Bridge came to be recognized as a symbol of the power and progress of the United States, and it set a precedent for suspension-bridge design around the world.
What are some advantages of building the Golden Gate Bridge?
The Golden Gate Bridge Has Some Advantages. tall ship passage is unobstructed by suspension bridges built on waterways because height limits on construction allow them to be built high enough. A high tide will raise the Golden Gate Bridge about 220 feet over San Francisco Bay.
Why is the Golden Gate Bridge so important?
Why do you like Golden Gate Bridge?
- It is majestic, powerful, epic
- The setting is awesomely beautiful
- It is at the end of the earth. ...
- It touches so many points of local and world history
- It is easy to cross on foot or bicycle. ...
- It is a triumph of engineering, even today it would be a mega project, but even more so in 1937
What do you know about the Golden Gate Bridge?
The most universally known symbol of San Francisco, The Golden Gate Bridge has stood as one of California’s most iconic sites since 1937. If you wanted to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge back then, it would cost you just 50 cents each way. The Golden Gate made a name for itself from the very beginning.
Why was the Golden Gate Bridge important?
Where is the Golden Gate Bridge?
What is the longest suspension bridge in the world?
What is the most photographed bridge in the world?
How much did the Golden Gate Bridge cost?
Which bridge has the longest span?
How were the cables on the bridges?
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What are 3 interesting facts about the Golden Gate Bridge?
5 Fun Facts About the Golden Gate BridgeThe bridge is actually not golden at all! It's a bright red-orange.It was named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.It took four years to build.There are approximately 600,000 rivets in each of the bridge's towers.It's the most photographed bridge in the world.
When was the Golden Gate Bridge facts?
The bridge opened to vehicular traffic on May 28, 1937, under budget and ahead of schedule. The main span, 1,280 metres (4,200 feet) long, is suspended from two cables hung from towers 227 metres (746 feet) high; at midpoint the roadway is 81 metres (265 feet) above mean high water.
How tall is Golden Gate Bridge?
746 feetAt the time of its opening, at 4,200 feet, the Golden Gate Bridge had the longest suspension bridge main span in the world. The bridge's two main towers each rise 746 feet above the water and are strung with 80,000 miles of cable.
Why is it called Golden Gate Bridge facts?
Fremont gazed at the narrow strait that separates the Bay for the Pacific Ocean, and said “it is a golden gate to trade with the Orient.” The name first appeared in his Geographical Memoir, submitted to the U.S. Senate on June 5, 1848, when he wrote, “to this Gate I gave the name of “Chrysopylae” or “Golden Gate” for ...
Why is Golden Gate red?
The Golden Gate Bridge has always been painted orange vermilion, deemed "International Orange." Rejecting carbon black and steel gray, Consulting Architect Irving Morrow selected the distinctive orange color because it blends well with the span's natural setting as it is a warm color consistent with the warm colors of ...
How long will Golden Gate Bridge last?
The bridge, like other infrastructure, has a lifespan. But Bauer and Mohn say with proper maintenance, the Golden Gate Bridge will endure. The retrofit project alone will buy the span another 150 years, Bauer estimated.
How high is the Golden Gate from water?
220′Golden Gate Bridge / Clearance below
How old is Golden Gate Bridge?
89Golden Gate Bridge / Age (c. 1933-1937)
How heavy is the Golden Gate Bridge?
Total weight of each anchorage is 60,000 tons (54,400,000 kg). Original combined weight of Bridge, anchorages, and approaches is 894,500 tons (811,500,000 kg). Total weight of Bridge, anchorages, and approaches (1937) is 894,500 tons (811,500,000 kg).
How much did Golden Gate Bridge cost?
By those standards, the construction safety record for the $35 million Golden Gate Bridge was impressive: only 11 construction workers died. (By contrast, 28 laborers died building the neighboring San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, which opened six months prior.)
How deep is the Golden Gate Bridge?
377-Feet Deep And Full Of Mystery At around 377 feet at its deepest point, the waters underneath the Golden Gate Bridge are bound to hold more than one ghostly tale from the past.
Who owns Golden Gate Bridge?
Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation DistrictThe Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District is a special district of the State of California which operates and maintains the Golden Gate Bridge and two unified public transit systems – Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferry – connecting the counties of Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, and Contra Costa.
How old is Golden Gate Bridge?
89Golden Gate Bridge / Age (c. 1933-1937)
How many people died when Golden Gate Bridge collapsed?
The names of all 11 men killed during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge are: Kermit Moore, O.A. Anderson; Chris Anderson; William Bass; O. Desper; Fred Dümmatzen; Terence Hallinan; Eldridge Hillen; Charles Lindros; Jack Norman; and Louis Russell.
When was Golden Gate Bridge completed?
May 27, 1937Golden Gate Bridge / OpenedOpening Of The Golden Gate Bridge. On May 27, 1937, San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge was opened to the public for the first time for “Pedestrian Day,” marking the start of the weeklong “Golden Gate Bridge Fiesta” held to celebrate its completion. More than 200,000 people paid twenty-five cents each to walk the bridge ...
Who built the Golden Gate Bridge facts?
Facts and History of Golden Gate BridgeNameGolden Gate BridgeDesigner/ArchitectJoseph Strauss, Irving Morrow, and Charles EllisLenght2,737.4 metres (8,981 ft ), about 2.7 km (1.7 mi)Width27.4 metres (90 ft)Span / Longest Span1,280.2 metres (4,200 ft)15 more rows
What are some interesting facts about the Golden Gate Bridge?
Here are eight historical and surprising fast facts about the Golden Gate Bridge. 1. An earthquake struck the bridge before it was even completed. pinterest-pin-it.
When was the Golden Gate Bridge opened?
San Franciscans celebrated the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge with Pedestrian Day on May 27, 1937. As many as 200,000 people crossed the bridge that day. People competed to be the first to run, push a baby stroller, and even roller skate across the Golden Gate Bridge.
What paint is used on the Golden Gate Bridge?
A massive cleanup effort to remove all the lead-based paint from the bridge started in 1965 and ended in 1995. Today, a zinc-based primer paint is used instead. The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District calls the zinc a “sacrificial metal” that protects the steel from rust.
Why did the Golden Gate Bridge have lead paint?
The architects intended the lead-based paint to protect the steel structure from corrosion, but later learned that lead is harmful to humans and the environment.
How much was the Golden Gate Bridge toll?
The initial toll for the bridge was 50 cents each way—roughly equivalent to an $18.00 roundtrip today—a hefty price to pay in the midst of the Great Depression. Today, Golden Gate Bridge tolls are collected in one direction only, heading southbound into the city of San Francisco.
Why is the Golden Gate Bridge painted blue?
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images. The U.S. Navy had lobbied that the bridge be painted in blue and yellow stripes to increase its visibility.
Where are the fog horns on the Golden Gate Bridge?
The Golden Gate Bridge’s fog horns blare different tones. The Golden Gate Bridge’s fog horns, mounted at the middle and south tower (San Francisco side) of the bridge, may be nearly as iconic as the structure itself.
What is the name of the bridge that connects San Francisco to the Pacific Ocean?
The name Golden Gate does not refer to the Bridge’s color, it is the name of the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean, which is called the Golden Gate Strait . A suspension bridge is the structural opposite of an arch.
What is the opposite of tension in a suspension bridge?
The opposite or upside down picture of those curves looks like an arch. The forces in the arch, compression forces, are the opposite of the tension forces that the suspension bridge cables experience.
What is the Golden Gate Bridge?
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the one-mile-wide (1.6 km) strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The structure links the U.S. city of San Francisco, California —the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula —to Marin County, carrying both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1 across the strait. It also carries pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and is designated as part of U.S. Bicycle Route 95. Being declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the bridge is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco and California. It was initially designed by engineer Joseph Strauss in 1917.
How much did it cost to build the Golden Gate Bridge?
Although the idea of a bridge spanning the Golden Gate was not new, the proposal that eventually took hold was made in a 1916 San Francisco Bulletin article by former engineering student James Wilkins. San Francisco's City Engineer estimated the cost at $100 million (equivalent to $2.4 billion today), and impractical for the time. He asked bridge engineers whether it could be built for less. One who responded, Joseph Strauss, was an ambitious engineer and poet who had, for his graduate thesis, designed a 55-mile-long (89 km) railroad bridge across the Bering Strait. At the time, Strauss had completed some 400 drawbridges —most of which were inland—and nothing on the scale of the new project. Strauss's initial drawings were for a massive cantilever on each side of the strait, connected by a central suspension segment, which Strauss promised could be built for $17 million (equivalent to $404 million today).
What was the Golden Gate Bridge's first day of celebration?
The bridge-opening celebration began on May 27, 1937, and lasted for one week. The day before vehicle traffic was allowed, 200,000 people crossed either on foot or on roller skates. On opening day, Mayor Angelo Rossi and other officials rode the ferry to Marin, then crossed the bridge in a motorcade past three ceremonial "barriers," the last a blockade of beauty queens who required Joseph Strauss to present the bridge to the Highway District before allowing him to pass. An official song, " There's a Silver Moon on the Golden Gate ," was chosen to commemorate the event. Strauss wrote a poem that is now on the Golden Gate Bridge entitled "The Mighty Task is Done." The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt pushed a button in Washington, D.C. signaling the official start of vehicle traffic over the Bridge at noon. As the celebration got out of hand there was a small riot in the uptown Polk Gulch area. Weeks of civil and cultural activities called "the Fiesta" followed. A statue of Strauss was moved in 1955 to a site near the bridge.
Why did the Golden Gate Bridge collapse?
Although the Golden Gate Bridge design has proved sound, a later Moisseiff design, the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge, collapsed in a strong windstorm soon after it was completed, because of an unexpected aeroelastic flutter.
What paint was used on the bridge?
The bridge was originally painted with red lead primer and a lead-based topcoat, which was touched up as required. In the mid-1960s, a program was started to improve corrosion protection by stripping the original paint and repainting the bridge with zinc silicate primer and vinyl topcoats. Since 1990, acrylic topcoats have been used instead for air-quality reasons. The program was completed in 1995 and it is now maintained by 38 painters who touch up the paintwork where it becomes seriously corroded. The ongoing maintenance task of painting the bridge is continuous.
How long did it take to get to San Francisco from the Ferry Building?
The trip from the San Francisco Ferry Building took 27 minutes. Many wanted to build a bridge to connect San Francisco to Marin County. San Francisco was the largest American city still served primarily by ferry boats.
Why did San Francisco want to build a bridge?
San Francisco was the largest American city still served primarily by ferry boats. Because it did not have a permanent link with communities around the bay , the city's growth rate was below the national average. Many experts said that a bridge could not be built across the 6,700-foot (2,000-metre) strait, which had strong, swirling tides and currents, with water 372 ft (113 m) deep at the center of the channel, and frequent strong winds. Experts said that ferocious winds and blinding fogs would prevent construction and operation.
How Long Is the Golden Gate Bridge?
A marvel of modern engineering, the Golden Gate Bridge is 1.7 miles long and 90 feet wide. Its 4,200-foot main span between the two towers was the longest for a suspension bridge until 1981, while its 746-foot towers made it the tallest bridge of any type until 1993.
Why was the Golden Gate Bridge closed?
The Golden Gate Bridge withstood the destructive Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989, and was closed to traffic only three times in its first 75 years due to weather conditions.
How deep was the first bridge support?
As a 1,100-foot trestle extended off the San Francisco side, divers plunged to depths of 90 feet through strong currents to blast away rock and remove detonation debris.
When did the bridge and highway district get its bond money?
In November 1930 , a measure passed to allow for the issuance of $35 million in bonds to pay for the project. However, the Bridge and Highway District struggled to find a financial backer amid the difficulties of the Great Depression, a problem exacerbated by years of expensive legal proceedings.
Who built the bridge on the northern end of the strait?
The job went to a Chicago-based engineer named Joseph Strauss, a drawbridge builder who believed he could complete the grand-scale project for a modest $25 to $30 million. After submitting his sketches for a cantilever-suspension hybrid span in June 1921, Strauss set about convincing the communities on the northern end of the strait that the bridge would be to their benefit.
When was the trestle of the trestle destroyed?
The trestle was damaged when it was struck by a ship in August 1933 and again amid a powerful storm late in the year, setting construction back five months.
When was the Golden Gate Bridge built?
The Golden Gate Bridge was designed by Joseph Strauss in 1917. 2. It took four years to build – to everyone’s surprise. Construction started in January 1933. It was actually finished early and under budget! In fact, it was millions of dollars under budget and opened its doors in May 1937. 3.
How deep is the water beneath the Golden Gate Bridge?
The water below the Golden Gate Bridge is reportedly 115m, or 377 feet, deep.
How many people have leapt off the Golden Gate Bridge?
Sadly, the Golden Gate Bridge has seen more than 1,400 people leap off during its tenure. Hundreds of people are helped down from jumping attempts each year. Always make sure to contact someone at The Samaritans if you have any of these feelings of your own. There is always someone who can help.
What county is the Golden Gate Bridge in?
The bridge links San Francisco, California to Marin County. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, United States. 4. The bridge took the place of a ferry trip. There used to be a lucrative ferry service in place of the bridge. It had been fully booked from the moment it opened for business way back in 1820.
What is the Golden Gate?
The name ‘Golden Gate’ is well-travelled. The ‘Golden Gate’ part of its name dates back to 1846. This is when a traveling photographer said the area reminded him of the Byzantium harbour called ‘Golden Horn’. 6. Building the bridge was a perilous affair. A giant net was suspended under the bridge during the building process.
How many workers were caught in the giant net?
A giant net was suspended under the bridge during the building process. It successfully caught 19 falling workmen.
Did the Golden Gate Bridge ever collapse?
Yes - there was a rare collapse that occurred in May 1987, when the golden anniversary of the bridge resulted in hundreds of thousands of people getting stuck.
What is the Golden Gate Bridge?
Golden Gate Bridge, suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate in California to link San Francisco with Marin county to the north. Upon its completion in 1937, it was the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world. The Golden Gate Bridge came to be recognized as a symbol of the power and progress of the United States, ...
Why is the Golden Gate Bridge important?
The Golden Gate Bridge came to be recognized as a symbol of the power and progress of the United States, and it set a precedent for suspension-bridge design around the world.
How long is the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge?
The main span, 1,280 metres (4,200 feet) long, is suspended from two cables hung from towers 227 metres (746 feet) high; at midpoint the roadway is 81 metres (265 feet) above mean high water. Until the completion of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in New York City in 1964, it had the longest main span in the world.
When was the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge opened?
The bridge opened to vehicular traffic on May 28, 1937, under budget and ahead of schedule. The main span, 1,280 metres (4,200 feet) long, is suspended from two cables hung from towers 227 metres (746 feet) high; at midpoint the roadway is 81 metres (265 feet) above mean high water. Until the completion of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in New York City in 1964, it had the longest main span in the world.
What is the Golden Gate Bridge?
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning across the Golden Gate.
How long did it take to build the Golden Gate Bridge?
The Golden Gate Bridge spans at 4,200 feet and has a total height of 746 feet. It took slightly more than three years to construct the bridge.
How much did Strauss spend on the bridge?
Strauss submitted plans for a symmetrical cantilever-suspension hybrid span. His estimated budget for the bridge was between $17 million or $27 million.
Why did the arch of the bridge flatten out?
Due to the weight of the mammoth crowd, the arch of the bridge flattened out. The suspension cables at the centre of the bridge were stretched as tight as harp strings.
Why are the stripes on the bridge black and yellow?
The U.S. Navy wanted the bridge painted black and yellow stripes to warrant visibility of passing ships.
How many people died in the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge?
11 men lost their lives during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Why was the safety net suspended under the bridge?
To ensure this, a safety net was suspended under the bridge to catch workers that may accidentally fall while working.
How long is the Golden Gate Bridge?
When it was built, the Golden Gate Bridge spanned 4,200 feet and staked its claim as the longest suspension bridge in the world.
How long was the Golden Gate Bridge before it was built?
Before the Golden Gate Bridge was built, the longest suspension bridge in the world was only 3,501 feet, 699 feet shorter than the proposed project .
Why did the Navy paint the Golden Gate Bridge black and yellow?
However, we dug deep into our resources of Golden Gate Bridge fun facts to discover the original plan was to paint it black and yellow! The Navy proposed this color scheme to help make the bridge easily visible for passing ships , especially in San Francisco’s famous fog.
How did the Golden Gate Bridge get its name?
The bridge is named after the Golden Gate Strait, which is the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean.
How many people have used the Golden Gate Bridge?
Over 1 Billion People Have Used the Golden Gate Bridge…. And the billionth user crossed it in 1985! Many visitors in San Francisco are surprised by these Golden Gate Bridge facts, but the bridge has gotten a lot of use in its lifetime.
What is the Golden Horn?
In 1846 an American topographer felt that the strait reminded him of a Byzantium harbor known as “Golden Horn,” and thus the name was bestowed. 4. The Golden Gate Bridge Has a Deadly History. Although this isn’t the most cheerful on our list of Golden Gate Bridge fun facts, it’s one that every visitor should know.
When did FDR open the Golden Gate Bridge?
FDR was the president in 1937 when the Golden Gate Bridge was completed, so he had the honor of announcing its opening. Although he didn’t travel all the way out to San Francisco, opening day was still quite the spectacle.
Why was the Golden Gate Bridge important?
A bridge to create a route between San Francisco and Marin County was deemed vital. At that time, San Francisco was the biggest American city still primarily served by ferry boats; this contributed to a deficiency in the growth rate of the city. Interesting facts about the Golden Gate Bridge. Image credit – David Lee.
Where is the Golden Gate Bridge?
Classic panoramic view of famous Golden Gate Bridge seen from scenic Baker Beach in beautiful golden evening light on a sunny day with blue sky and clouds in summer, San Francisco, California, USA . Image via shutterstock/ canadastock
What is the longest suspension bridge in the world?
This suspension bridge was viewed as an engineering marvel upon its completion in 1937; in the world at that time, it was the longest primary suspension bridge. Japan’s Akashi Kaikyo Bridge now boasts the longest span in the world.
What is the most photographed bridge in the world?
At different times, each horn produces a different tone to assist in safely guiding ships through dense fog. 20. Most Photographed. The Golden Gate Bridge is among the most photographed across the globe.
How much did the Golden Gate Bridge cost?
The bridge was constructed at a cost of roughly $35.5 million and came in ahead of schedule and under budget. 6. Local Financing. To finance the building of the bridge, local citizen used their own properties as collateral. This was done via bonds offered through the Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District.
Which bridge has the longest span?
Japan’s Akashi Kaikyo Bridge now boasts the longest span in the world. These days, the Golden Gate Bridge, landmark of the West Coast, attracts millions of tourists and commuters each year. 1.
How were the cables on the bridges?
For the bridge, the cables were horizontally threaded between two enormous concrete blocks. Additional vertical cables were then added to connect the main cable to the deck of the bridge. This was done right at the construction site.
Overview
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the one-mile-wide (1.6 km) strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The structure links the U.S. city of San Francisco, California—the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula—to Marin County, carrying both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1 across the strait. It also carries pedestrian and bicycle …
History
Before the bridge was built, the only practical short route between San Francisco and what is now Marin County was by boat across a section of San Francisco Bay. A ferry service began as early as 1820, with a regularly scheduled service beginning in the 1840s for the purpose of transporting water to San Francisco.
Structural specifications
Until 1964, the Golden Gate Bridge had the longest suspension bridge main span in the world, at 4,200 feet (1,300 m). Since 1964 its main span length has been surpassed by seventeen bridges; it now has the second-longest main span in the Americas, after the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in New York City. The total length of the Golden Gate Bridge from abutment to abutment is 8,981 feet (2,73…
Aesthetics
Aesthetics was the foremost reason why the first design of Joseph Strauss was rejected. Upon re-submission of his bridge construction plan, he added details, such as lighting, to outline the bridge's cables and towers. In 1999, it was ranked fifth on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.
Traffic
Most maps and signage mark the bridge as part of the concurrency between U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1. Although part of the National Highway System, the bridge is not officially part of California's Highway System. For example, under the California Streets and Highways Code § 401, Route 101 ends at "the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge" and then resumes at "a point in Ma…
Issues
The Golden Gate Bridge is the most used suicide site in the world. The deck is about 245 feet (75 m) above the water. After a fall of four seconds, jumpers hit the water at around 75 mph (120 km/h; 30 m/s). Most die from impact trauma. About 5% survive the initial impact but generally drown or die of hypothermia in the cold water.
See also
• 25 de Abril Bridge, a bridge with a similar design in Portugal
• The Bridge, a 2006 documentary on suicides from the Bridge
• Golden Gate Bridge in popular culture
• List of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks
Further reading
• Cassady, Stephen (1979). Spanning the Gate (Commemorative edition, 1987 ed.). Squarebooks. ISBN 978-0916290368.
• Dyble, Louise Nelson; the Golden Gate Bridge (2009). Paying the Toll: Local Power, Regional Politics. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 9780812222784.
• Friend, Tad (October 13, 2003). "Jumpers: The fatal grandeur of the Golden Gate Bridge". The New Yorker. Vol. 79, no. 30. p. 48. Archived from the original on Nove…
• Cassady, Stephen (1979). Spanning the Gate (Commemorative edition, 1987 ed.). Squarebooks. ISBN 978-0916290368.
• Dyble, Louise Nelson; the Golden Gate Bridge (2009). Paying the Toll: Local Power, Regional Politics. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 9780812222784.
• Friend, Tad (October 13, 2003). "Jumpers: The fatal grandeur of the Golden Gate Bridge". The New Yorker. Vol. 79, no. 30. p. 48. Archived from the original on November 8, 2006.