what is the building under the golden gate bridge

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.

How much did the Golden Gate Bridge cost to build?

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco was built over a four and a half year period between 1933 and 1937. It is the second largest suspension bridge in the United States. The bridge cost $37 million, but was funded by municipal bonds that cost an additional $39 million dollars in interest.

How long did it take build the Golden Gate Bridge?

The bridge was built over an extremely long period of time. The Golden Gate Bridge was built over a period of almost four years and four and a half months, or 1,604 days. A total of work began on January 5, 1933 and the bridge opened to traffic on May 28, 1937.

How many people died building the Golden Gate Bridge?

Officially, eleven people died building the Golden Gate Bridge. That was considered very low for the time given the size of the project, a result of a new kind of safety net suspended under the bridge during construction. Ten of the eleven deaths were due to a single accident in which a work platform collapsed under them and tore through the net.

What is the building at the bottom of Golden Gate Bridge?

Fort Point Information From its vantage point overlooking the spectacular Golden Gate, Fort Point protected San Francisco harbor from Confederate & foreign attack during & after the U.S. Civil War. Its beautifully arched casemates display the art of the master brick mason from the Civil War period.

What did they find under the Golden Gate Bridge that will give you nightmares?

Marine archaeologists say an underwater survey has identified four new shipwrecks in a graveyard just west of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. The waters just west of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge hide a graveyard of sunken ships.

What was Fort Point used for?

Fort Point was built between 1853 and 1861 by the U.S. Army Engineers as part of a defense system of forts planned for the protection of San Francisco Bay.

Are there bodies in the Golden Gate Bridge?

Since it opened on May 27, 1937, there have been an estimated 1,600 deaths in which the body was recovered, and many more unconfirmed. The data for 2011 underscore this reality: 37 people died jumping off the bridge last year, according to the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.

Are there sharks under the Golden Gate Bridge?

Thankfully, while Great Whites are numerous along the California coast, the menacing shark infrequently ventures under the Golden Gate Bridge to pay us a visit. However, there are 11 different species of shark that do call the San Francisco Bay home.

Can you go inside Fort Point?

Open Thursday through Monday, 10:00am-5:00pm. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. The exterior of the fort can be accessed 7 days a week. South anchorage of the Golden Gate Bridge at the end of Marine Drive on the Presidio of San Francisco.

How deep is the Golden Gate Bridge under water?

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.

Does Fort Point cost money?

Entrance Fees: There is no charge to visit Fort Point.

Why the Golden Gate Bridge is mysterious humming?

High winds cause loud humming on Golden Gate Bridge SAN FRANCISCO - Strong winds created a strange noise on the Golden Gate Bridge. The wind-produced tones are the side effect of a handrail retrofit designed to make the span more aerodynamic on gusty days.

What's the problem with the Golden Gate Bridge?

Eventually, the experts determined the humming occurs when the city's voracious winds hit a set of newly installed bridge railing slats from a slightly off-kilter angle – either slightly north or slightly south of the usual winds from the west.

What landmark has an eerie sound?

The Golden Gate BridgeThe Golden Gate Bridge is emitting a 'creepy' hum, so this musician used it as a drone in his music. San Francisco's landmark structure has been making a 'creepy' noise in the wind, and this guitarist knew just what to do. For over a year, one of America's most iconic landmarks has been making a mysterious noise.

What landmark has an eerie humming sound?

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge has long been something tourists flock to see. But now it's something people in the area can also hear — on a windy day, the landmark bridge actually emits a humming sound, puzzling and irritating many people on social media.

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.

When did the Golden Gate Bridge start?

San Francisco-based Bank of America decided to take on and fund the project, hoping that construction would be beneficial to the local economy. On January 5, 1933 construction on the Golden Gate Bridge officially began.

Why was it harder to build the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge?

The north tower was built first then the south one. It was harder to build the south tower because it was further out into the water.

Where Does The Name “Golden Gate” Come From?

What many people do not know is that the Golden Gate Bridge is so named because the body of water it passes over is called the Golden Gate Strait.

Why is the Golden Gate Bridge named after the bridge?

Therefore, the Golden Gate Bridge is simply named so because it is the bridge that passes over the Golden Gate Strait.

How much money did the Golden Gate Bridge cost?

This project not only wowed engineers, architects and the public alike but also was completed almost $2 million under budget at only $35 million. More than 2 billion cars have passed over the bridge and 10 million people travel to see the bridge every year.

How many miles of wire is on the Golden Gate Bridge?

In fact, the cables of the iconic bridge are actually made up of 27,000 individual pieces. Together, there are over 80,000 miles of wire on the Golden Gate Bridge. That’s enough wire to wrap around the earth more than 3.5 times.

How much did Joseph Strauss spend on the Golden Gate Bridge?

When Joseph Strauss took on the Golden Gate Bridge project, he was sure he could complete the project for $25 - 30 million. His plan was to build a 4,000-foot long bridge that would be an icon both in design and engineering.

Who built the Golden Gate Bridge?

In 1919 the visionary engineer Joseph B. Strauss came to San Francisco to inspect the site. He was convinced he could build a bridge across the Golden Gate, January 5, 1933 work began that lasted four years. One of the most recognizable structures in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge was also at the time of its completion in 1937, ...

How long did the Golden Gate Bridge last?

One of the most recognizable structures in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge was also at the time of its completion in 1937, the longest suspension bridge, and remained so for 27 years. Between its two tall towers of steel pass 1280 meters open water.

Why was the Golden Gate Bridge named after the Golden Gate Bridge?

The gateway to the San Francisco Bay was named Chrysopylae, or “Golden Gate”, by explorer John Charles Fremont Fremont in 1846 because I felt the Great Entrance would be advantageous for trade. Before the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, people served by the ferries that travel between San Francisco and Marin to make the journey or to carry spring water from Sausalito to San Francisco.

How many pillars are there on a suspension bridge?

The suspension bridges have two central pillars supporting the entire structure. From these pillars arise cables that support the weight of the roadway. Each pillar supports the weight of the section of bridge from the abutment to the end, and the section of bridge from the abutment to the middle of the bridge.

How many times has the Golden Gate Bridge been closed?

In the last seven decades, endured countless earthquakes, including the devastating 1989 of 7.1 on the Richter scale. In fact, the bridge has been closed only three times in its history due to high winds.

Who was the architect of the intersection?

Joseph Strauss is credited as the visionary and engineer leading this project. However, the engineer Charles Ellis and Leon Moissieff designer played an important role in the success of this iconic intersection. Armed with only a slide rule and calculating machine, with its operations solved the problems of compression and tension faced by the project.

How much deformation is in the towers?

Transverse deformation of the towers: 0.32 m

When was Fort Point built?

Fort Point National Historic Site. Established in 1853 during the California Gold Rush, Fort Point has stood at the narrows of the Golden Gate for more than 150 years. The three-story brick fortress, built over eight years by more than 200 men, was to be the most formidable deterrence America could offer to a naval attack on California during ...

When did Spain build Fort Point?

Spain fortified the cliff where Fort Point now sits and built the adobe Castillo de San Joaquin in 1794, to house around 10 cannons. In 1821, when Mexico won independence from Spain, it gained control of the region and the fort, but eventually the Mexican army relocated to Sonoma and the structure was abandoned.

How many cannons are there at Fort Point?

Fort Point National Historic Site is a three story abandoned military fort sitting directly under the Golden Gate Bridge that at one time boasted 126 cannons, each weighing 10,000 pounds, pointing out of it’s seven foot thick walls ready to defend the San Francisco Bay. A view of Fort Point National Historic Site and the Golden Gate Bridge ...

Why was the lighthouse torn down?

While waiting for the arrival of its light, it was torn down to make room for the construction of Fort Point. The second lighthouse, built between the fort and the water, was lit in 1855.

What are the exhibits at Fort Point?

Museum exhibits are found throughout the fort on the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Fort Point Lighthouses, Buffalo Soldiers, and the construction of and life at Fort Point. Only the first floor of Fort Point is accessible. This includes the bookstore, theater, cannons, and some exhibits. Restrooms are available outside the Fort.

What are some interesting facts about Fort Point?

There are museum exhibits on the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Fort Point Lighthouses, Buffalo Soldiers, and the construction of and life at Fort Point. In the theater you can watch two movies on the construction of the Golden gate and life at Fort Point.

What is Fort Point called?

Called The Pride Of The Pacific, Fort Point is the only brick fortification west of the Mississippi River to use the military’s Third System architecture style, with three stacked levels of cannons. The original point used to be 90 feet higher in elevation!

Overview

History

Structural specifications

Aesthetics

Traffic

Issues

See also

Further reading