Golden Gate Bridge Celebrates 75 year History (Infographic)

More than 2 billion cars have crossed the 1.7-mile-long Golden Gate Bridge since it opened in 1937. Named after the Golden Gate Strait, the passageway of water that connectsSan Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean, the bridge’s initial design was submitted by engineer Joseph Strauss in the 1920s. Strauss' first design called for a hybrid cantilever-suspension bridge. The idea for a full-suspension span — the design that was ultimately built — came later.

At its completion, the Golden Gate Bridge would become the world's longest suspension span, a masterpiece of engineering considering that the designers had to calculate all the potential forces on the bridge without the help of computers.

The bridge’s engineers used a modified version of the suspension bridge plan, enabling it to support the heavy load of vehicle traffic. It had to be light enough to be supported from its own cables, but still strong enough to withstand the strait's fierce winds and any earthquakes.

The bridge was still vulnerable to high winds, however, and had to be closed briefly in a 1951 windstorm that buckled the roadway.

Since then, stiffening trusses and lateral bracing made the bridge more stable and less susceptible to wind and potentially catastrophic twisting motions.

The bridge, like all infrastructure, has a life span. But with proper maintenance and upgrades in structural components, engineers hope to lengthen the life of the bridge another 150 years.


The glowing, orange Golden Gate Bridge — is celebrating an incredible 75 years in service. Considered an engineering marvel when it was completed in 1937 it was the longest suspension bridge of its day at 1.7 miles. It has carried over 2 billion cars.

While many bridges have since been built the Golden Gate Bridge, many of them have had the advantage of using modern technology — computers and machinery that just wasn't around in 1937. When you throw in the fact that the bridge had to be built strong enough to withstand earthquakes, high winds and high traffic, the achievement of designer Joseph Strauss and the hundreds of men who worked to make the bridge reality is astounding.

There is such a long list of facts about the Golden Gate Bridge it could take pages to write about them. Here are two of my favorites before you dig in to the infographic below.

The Golden Gate Bridge is painted "international orange" and is constantly being painted. Painting of the bridge is considered the primary maintenance task as the special zinc based primer and acrylic top-coat protect from the harsh salty spray of the Bay.

The "Halfway to Hell Club" associated with the Bridge is the name given to the 19 men who fell off during construction, and were saved by the safety net rigged under the floor of the Bridge from end to end.

Now go enjoy some other facts about the Bridge — share some of your own if you've got them!

Source:LiveScience