DAY IN HISTORY-MAY 27, 1937

Golden Gate Bridge Opens

As many as 200,000 people walk across world’s longest suspension bridge

Image by Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On May 27, 1937, designated as “Pedestrian Day,” the Golden Gate Bridge opened only to foot traffic. Beginning at 6 a.m., about 15,000 people per hour walked across the bridge until 6 p.m. As many as 200,000 people paid a quarter each to cross the bridge.

The first day marked the start of “Fiesta Week,” a week-long celebration of the bridge’s opening to the public. At 11 a.m. on May 28, 500 planes from Navy aircraft carriers flew over the bridge. At Noon, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the bridge officially open to the world and, for the first time, vehicles crossed it in both directions. The United States Fleet — a total of 42 ships — arrived at 3 p.m., and a fireworks display was held at 10 p.m.

Spanning 1.7 miles and linking the city of San Francisco to Marin County, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world at that time. It took four years to complete the project, but chief engineer Joseph Strauss invested more than ten years of his time gaining support for the bridge. Proponents included the city of San Francisco, anxious to increase accessibility, and the American automobile industry. But opposition was vigorous; for example, Southern Pacific Railroad, which owned the fleet of ferries serving the route, was opposed to the bridge. The Department of War had concerns the bridge might impede ship traffic.

Ultimately, the project was green-lighted, with construction beginning on January 5, 1933. At a cost of more than $35 million, the Golden Gate Bridge was under budget by $1.3 million and was completed ahead of schedule.

The Golden Gate Bridge is named after the Golden Gate Strait over which it crosses, although some observers mistakenly believe it is named for its unusual color. The “International Orange” color was selected by architect Irving Morrow, who wanted it to stand apart from traditional gray bridges, and also for high visibility in the typically dense fog surrounding the bridge. Morrow hoped the bridge would evoke a warm feeling, complementing the natural environment of the land and contrasting with the blues of the sea and the sky.

The color, sleek design and location of the Golden Gate Bridge makes it one of the most iconic symbols of any American city. In 1994, the American Society of Civil Engineers designated the Golden Gate Bridge as one of the “Seven Wonders of the Modern World.”

Other bridges have since surpassed its length, but few bridges are as aesthetically pleasing and internationally renowned as the Golden Gate Bridge.

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