The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco via Reg Saddler |
Golden Gate with Fort Point in foreground, c. 1891 |
Construction on the bridge did not begin without opposition. The military, loggers, the railroads each had their own reasons. Nor did the building of the bridge go without dangers in its midst - the area where the bridge was to be built often encountered winds up to 60 mph with strong ocean currents that swept through a rugged canyon below the surface. And, if that was not enough, the era was in the middle of the Great Depression where money was definitely not plentiful, but quite the opposite...scarce! With construction already under way, voters overwhelmingly approved $35 million in bonds to continue building the Golden Gate Bridge, which was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.
6 Things You May Not Know About the Golden Gate Bridge
Deconstructing History: Golden Gate Bridge
Frequently Asked Questions about the Golden Gate Bridge
Within the above link, you will find answers to questions such as...WHY THE NAME GOLDEN GATE?
The Golden Gate Strait is the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The strait is approximately three-miles long by one-mile wide with currents ranging from 4.5 to 7.5 knots. It is generally accepted that the strait was named "Chrysopylae", or Golden Gate, by John C. Fremont, Captain, topographical Engineers of the U.S. Army circa 1846. It reminded him of a harbor in Istanbul named Chrysoceras or Golden Horn.
Do you know why the Golden Gate Bridge is painted international orange, rather than gold? The answer to this question and many more FAQs are found by clicking the link above. The two pictures below might perhaps provide a clue.
Fog at the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco |
A view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin Headlands on a foggy morning at sunrise |
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