Today in History: The Golden Gate Bridge Construction Begins

By Y.M. Lowy

In the first week of January 1933, workers began building one of the most famous bridges in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge. This amazing bridge connects San Francisco to Marin County across a body of water called the Golden Gate Strait.

The idea for the bridge had been talked about for a long time, but it wasn’t until the early 1930s that it became possible to build. Chief engineer Joseph Strauss led the project, with help from other engineers. They worked together to create a strong and beautiful bridge. The first design was rejected, after some changes, the bridge was ready to be built.

When the Golden Gate Bridge opened to the public on May 27, 1937, it was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world. It stretched 4,200 feet across the water and stood 746 feet tall. 

The bridge is famous for its bright orange-red color, called international orange. This color helps the bridge stand out in the fog and looks beautiful against the sky and water. Even though the bridge is old, it still looks great! 38 painters work every year to keep the bridge’s paint fresh and protect it from the weather.