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Golden Gate Bridge – Location, History, Facts

Last Updated : 22 Sep, 2023
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One of the longest suspension bridges in the world is the Golden Gate Bridge. The Golden Gate Bridge, which was constructed across the Golden Gate, marks the point where San Francisco Bay meets the Pacific Ocean. The Golden Gate, which connects San Francisco and California, is a well-known example of civil engineering not just in the United States but also abroad. The bridge is surrounded by a dense layer of fog throughout the summer, which obscures the entire span and only allows the two orange towers to be seen rising above it, creating the impression of two golden ladders ascending to the sky. It seems to stand in for a golden entrance to heaven. 

On May 27, 1937 – Pedestrian Day – the bridge was officially opened to the public, and more than 200,000 people crossed it. A similar gathering of almost 300,000 people was held to commemorate the bridge’s 50th anniversary, but this disastrous event resulted in a 7-foot deflection in the middle, flattening the bridge’s famous arch. Irving Morrow, a consulting architect, proposed the orange vermilion color for the bridge, which serves the dual purposes of blending in with the natural surroundings and standing out to ships in fog. Floodlighting at night makes the bridge glow with a golden luminescence that reflects off the bay’s waters and gives the area a magical appearance.

Golden Gate Bridge – History & Development:

Many parts of the Bay Area were connected by ferries before the Golden Gate Bridge was built. San Francisco was one of the cities in the country that was growing the fastest in the late 19th century, but as it began to grow into a significant city center, it encountered a significant speed bump. The absence of quick, dependable transportation caused the city to stop expanding, especially after the development of affordable cars in the early 20th century. Even though the ferry service at the time was well-liked, many locals urged the building of a bridge so that people could travel more quickly and easily. One of the initial suggestions was to have a massive suspension bridge constructed over Fort Point at the end of the Golden Gate Strait. Although Joseph Strauss is credited as the principal engineer and designer of the Golden Gate Bridge, he ultimately had very little to do with the structure’s enduring appearance.

The Golden Gate Bridge was built using three main procedures. The construction of the towers and concrete anchors came first, followed by the raising of the cables, the dropping of the vertical cables, the installation of the steel road deck, and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge highway.

Facts Related To Golden Gate Bridge:

  • The bridge can be shielded from water and humidity with this reddish-orange sealant. In addition to harmoniously blending with the bridge’s surroundings, the color is also prominent in the fog.
  • It was the world’s tallest and longest suspension bridge when it was first built in 1937.
  • 90 feet wide and 1.7 miles long make up the Golden Gate Bridge. With a span of 6500 feet, Japan’s Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge is currently the longest suspension bridge in the world.
  • When the bridge first opened in 1937, its combined weight with the anchorages was close to 894,500 tons After re-decking, the total weight was 887,900 tons later in 1986.
  • On April 19, 1937, the project was completed after four years of work. A “Golden Gate Bridge Opening Fiesta Week” was held to commemorate the bridge’s opening on May 27, 1937. A poem titled “A Mighty Task Is Done” was dedicated by Joseph Strauss, who was also a poet.
  • In 1994, the American Society of Civil Engineers designated the bridge as one of the country’s seven engineering wonders.

Conclusion:

The longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its completion in 1937. The Golden Gate Bridge established a standard for suspension-bridge design all over the world and came to be regarded as a representation of the strength and advancement of the United States. The San Francisco Bridge is highly known, and its purpose is to draw people to it and allow them to see it. It is portrayed in movies and other forms of media because of this. 

The San Francisco Bridge’s main selling point is that it will get people to their destinations and across to the other side. Because of the legitimacy of the media and because the bridge draws people to it, ethos and pathos are the appeals utilized in this context. People who reside nearby and those who appreciate the bridge make up the audience in this area.


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