loading image
An engineering marvel, the Art Deco-inspired Golden Gate Bridge has stood as an iconic symbol of San Francisco since its opening in 1937. Architect Irving Morrow (1884–1952) selected its distinctive international orange color. Discussions for a bridge to span the Golden Gate Strait, which joins San Francisco Bay with the Pacific Ocean, began in the late nineteenth century before a serious campaign commenced in 1916. Bridge construction started in 1933, led by chief engineer Joseph Strauss (1870–1938). At the time of its completion, the bridge was the longest and tallest suspension bridge ever constructed. Because of the hazardous construction conditions, Strauss instituted rigorous safety measures not commonly used at the time, such as using hard hats, glare-free goggles, and a safety net that stretched end to end underneath the bridge. See “San Francisco: City of the World” on display, post-security, in Terminal 2 and online at: https://bit.ly/SFCityOfTheWorld #SFCityoftheWorld #GoldenGateBridge 📸: 1. The Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge c. 1935 Walter L. Greene (1870–1956) oil and graphite on canvas L2024.0501.044 2. Golden Gate Bridge construction workers 1936 San Francisco Courtesy of Cavallini & Co. Archives L2024.0501.042 SFO Museum respectfully acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone—the original, present, and future inhabitants and stewards of the San Francisco Peninsula. Please join us in recognizing and honoring Ramaytush Ohlone ancestors, descendants, and all Indigenous communities who have inhabited the Bay Area for hundreds of generations.
This image was posted on October 25, 2024.