Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco, California, and the United States. It is the 9th longest suspension bridge in the world. It has been declared one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. 

Golden Gate Bridge is also a celebrated icon of San Francisco. Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait, the mile-wide, three-mile-long channel between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Golden Gate Bridge, a stunning technological and artistic achievement, opens to the public after five years of construction. Construction began on January 5, 1933. The bridge has opened for Pedestrian day on May 27th, 1937. The span of the bridge is 1.7 miles long including the approaches. The main span is 4,200 feet long. The Bridge cost 35 million dollars to build and 4.5 years. The bridge is 90 feet wide. The total weight of the bridge today is 887,000 tons, down from 894,500 tons, due to the replacement of new decking material. On May 28, the Golden Gate Bridge opened to vehicular traffic. The name "Golden Gate" refers to the strait the bridge spans, and came about around 1846. It reminded Captain John C. Fremont (an American military officer, explorer, and US senator) of a harbor in Istanbul that he had seen by the name of "Chrysoceras" (or Golden Horn). He named the strait "Chrysopylae" - a mouthful of a word which means Golden Gate. Not surprisingly (and thankfully too!), Chrysopylae didn't really stick, and people took to calling it the Golden Gate Bridge instead.

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 the land masses in the setting as distinct from the cool colors of the sky and sea. The best "postcard" views are from above the bridge on the San Francisco side. Access it from the "Last SF Exit" off the approach road, or from Lincoln Avenue. The historic fort at the base of the south end of the bridge is a good place for a long, low Golden Gate Bridge photo with the bridge receding into the distance. Reach it from Lincoln Avenue. If you're not embarrassed about getting down on your tummy, the hillside flowers make interesting foreground accents. Go inside the historic fort and climb to the top level for unique views and angles. There are many nice views of the bridge from the ocean side along Lincoln Avenue. Turn right out of the south vista point parking lot onto Lincoln. Baker Beach is a good place for a view and Golden Gate Bridge photo from water level. If you visit any of these vista points and plan to return to San Francisco by driving back across the bridge, you'll have to pay a toll and the bridge no longer has human toll-takers to take your cash. On the north side of the bridge, your Golden Gate Bridge photo will show the city skyline behind it. Going north, exit US Hwy 101 at Alexander (just north of the vista point), turn left onto Battery and go under the freeway, then just before the road joins the highway going back across the bridge, turn right onto Conzelman Road. On a clear night it is best time for an evening shot. For now, everything remains the same on the Golden Gate. Vehicles rush to the city and tourists walk along the railings admiring the great view of Golden Gate Bridge. So if you're one of the lucky ones to visit the landmark, remember where to look and when to get off.