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San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, with its famous International Orange towers defines the very nature of this distinctive northern California city. The bridge connects San Francisco to Marin County, home to Sausalito, a trendy, seaside community. Completed in 1937, after four years of construction and the loss of 11 lives, which was considered a low death toll during those times: The Golden Gate Bridge soon became an architectural world wonder, and is one of the most photographed bridges in the world.

The Golden Gate Bridge has a storied past, with political battles, lawsuits, and naysayers contending it was impossible to build a bridge over the Golden Strait in San Francisco Bay due to intense winds, fog and dangerous currents. After ten years of infighting, Joseph Strauss, the main builder and engineer succeeded in his quest to build the bridge.

The bridge architect, Irving Morrow, is credited with the enduring Art Deco design and the use of orange vermilion paint, now known as International Orange. The bridge's bright orange color provides an elegant contrast to the ocean setting, offering visitors and residents a nightly spectacle, as the orange bridge towers glow against the backdrop of the setting sun. Morrow made use of art deco style, popular at the time of simple post railings, expansive walkways, and elegant lighting that after 70 years, remains a modern testament to bridge design.

Interesting Facts:

The Golden Gate Bridge recently reached 70 years old in May of 2007. The magnificent towers of the bridge rise 746 feet (227 m) above the ocean, and the bridge is 1.7 miles (2,7 km) in length. The Golden Gate name originated from optimistic gold miners who traveled across San Francisco Bay to find their fortune in gold discoveries. The bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world until the completion of the Verrazano Bridge in New York. Close to 40 million people a year, cross over the Golden Gate Bridge.

How to get to Golden Gate Bridge: By Bus 2,4,8,10,18,20,28


Golden Gate Bridge Panorama



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