The Golden Gate Bridge Opens

Setting the scene

During the Great Depression, engineers Joseph Strauss, Irving Morrow, and Charles Alton Ellis designed a suspension bridge to span the Golden Gate strait between San Francisco and Marin County. Construction began January 5, 1933.

What happened

The Golden Gate Bridge opened to pedestrians on May 27, 1937, and to vehicles the next day, with a 4,200-foot main span that was the world's longest suspension bridge until 1964. Its International Orange paint was chosen partly for visibility in fog.

Why it still matters

The bridge carries roughly 112,000 vehicles daily and remains an engineering and tourism icon. Memorable detail: eleven workers died during construction, but a safety net under the roadway saved 19 men, who called themselves the 'Half Way to Hell Club.'

Background

It was the longest suspension span at the time.