Travel Genius

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay onto the Pacific Ocean. It connects the city of San Francisco on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County. The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1937, and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and California.

This was known as the Bridge that could not be built because it was constructed during the great depression, there was great opposition to the building of the bridge because some people were making good money out of the ferryboats that were used at the time.

Although the idea of a bridge spanning the Golden Gate was not new, the proposal that eventually took root was made in a 1916 San Francisco Bulletin article by former engineering student James Wilkins. Charles Alton Ellis designed the Golden Gate Bridge. Construction of the Bridge started in January 5, 1933. The Bridge opened after four years on May 28, 1937. The cost in toady’s money is estimated at 1.3 billion dollars.

Finding support for the bridge was not easy, just about everybody opposed the making of a bridge, they objected that it would interfere with shipping traffic and that it would cut the profits of the ferry business, and that it would cost too much money, but finally, with precious few allies, they got the necessary land and got down to business.

Strauss was chief engineer in charge of overall design and construction of the bridge project. However, because he had little understanding or experience with cable-suspension designs responsibility for much of the engineering and architecture fell on other experts.

The Golden Gate Bridge’s 4,200 foot long main delay period was a world record, which stood for about 27 years. The bridge’s two towers rise 746 feet creating them 191 feet taller than the Washington Monument. The five lane bridge crosses Golden Gate Strait that is also about 400 feet, or 130 meters, deep.

The original roadway was made with concrete. The weight was reduced 12,300 tons in 1986 when a new roadway was installed. It was a lightweight steal deck covered in epoxy cement. The roadway actually lifted up several feet when it was replaced. The cables connecting each end of the Bridge are actually 27,572 wires woven together 6 wires at a time. The individual wires are the size of a pencil. 80,000 miles of wire were used to make the cables.

The bridge-opening celebration began on 27 May 1937 and lasted for one week. The day before vehicle traffic was allowed, 200,000 people crossed by foot and roller skate. On opening day, Mayor Angelo Rossi and other officials rode the ferry to Marin.

The Golden Gate Bridge is considered one of the most beautiful bridges in the world even today, and some consider it the most photographed bridge that the word has. The paint that was chosen for the Golden Gate was selected to enhance the bridge and make it blend into the environment around it while at the same time make it highly visible in the fog.

The Golden Gate had not only seen some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world, it has also witnessed many suicides. It is most-popular place to commit suicide in the United States.
The golden gate bridge which is the most beautiful bridge ever built, has and will amaze and inspires people for centuries to come. The Golden Gate is a marvel of modern engineering. The Bridge now stands as a testament to mans’ determination to conquer natural barriers. It has endured large earthquakes, heavy loads and has stood the test of time. The beauty of the Bridge draws spectators and photographers from around the World to see its legendary beauty.