Golden Gate Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden Gate Bridge |
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A view of the bridge from the San Francisco side in 2017.
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| Coordinates | 37°49′11″N 122°28′43″W / 37.81972°N 122.47861°W |
| Carries |
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| Crosses | Golden Gate strait |
| Locale | San Francisco, California and Marin County, California, U.S. |
| Official name | Golden Gate Bridge |
| Maintained by | Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension, Art Deco |
| Material | Steel |
| Total length | 8,980 ft, about 1.70 mi (2.74 km) |
| Width | 90 ft (27.4 m) |
| Height | 746 ft (227.4 m) |
| Longest span | 4,200 ft, about 0.79 mi (1.27 km) |
| Clearance above | 14 ft (4.3 m) at toll gates |
| Clearance below | 220 ft (67.1 m) at high tide |
| History | |
| Architect | Irving Morrow |
| Engineering design by | Joseph Strauss, Charles Ellis, Leon Solomon Moisseiff |
| Constructed by | Barrett and Hilp |
| Construction begin | January 5, 1933 |
| Construction end | April 19, 1937 |
| Opened | May 27, 1937 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | About 112,000 per day |
| Toll |
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| Designated: | June 18, 1987 |
| Reference #: | 974 |
| Designated: | May 21, 1999 |
| Reference #: | 222 |
The Golden Gate Bridge is a world-famous suspension bridge that crosses the Golden Gate, a narrow strait of water that connects the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. It links the city of San Francisco with Marin County. The bridge is one of the most recognized symbols of both San Francisco and California.
The bridge is a true engineering marvel. When it opened in 1937, it was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world. Its main section between the two towers, called the main span, is 4,200 feet (1,300 m) long. The towers themselves stand 746 feet (227 m) tall. The American Society of Civil Engineers named it one of the Wonders of the Modern World.
Travel guides often call it "possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world." It carries cars on U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, and also has paths for people walking and riding bicycles.
Contents
The Story of the Bridge
A Bridge Was Needed
Before the bridge was built, the only way to get from San Francisco to Marin County was by boat. Ferry services started in the 1840s, carrying people and later cars across the bay. The trip took about 20 minutes. As San Francisco grew, more and more people wanted a bridge to connect the two areas.
However, building a bridge over the Golden Gate was a huge challenge. The strait is over a mile wide with very strong tides and currents. The water is deep, and the area is known for powerful winds and thick fog. Many experts thought it would be impossible to build a bridge there.
Designing a Masterpiece
Despite the challenges, an engineer named Joseph Strauss was determined to build the bridge. His first idea was a bit clunky, so he brought in other experts to help. Leon Moisseiff came up with the graceful suspension design we see today. This design allows the bridge to be flexible and move slightly in the wind, which makes it stronger.
An architect named Irving Morrow gave the bridge its special look. He designed the shape of the towers, the lighting, and the stylish Art Deco details. Morrow also chose the bridge's famous color, International Orange. He picked it because it stands out in the fog and looks beautiful against the green hills and blue water.
Another key engineer was Charles Alton Ellis. He did many of the difficult math calculations needed to make sure the bridge was safe and strong. For a long time, he didn't get credit for his work, but he is now recognized as one of the main designers.
Building the Bridge
Construction on the Golden Gate Bridge began on January 5, 1933. It was a massive project that cost over $35 million. The work was dangerous, especially high up on the towers and cables.
Joseph Strauss, the chief engineer, made safety a top priority. He insisted on a special safety net being hung under the bridge during construction. This net was like a giant trapeze net and saved the lives of 19 workers who fell. These men proudly called themselves the "Half Way to Hell Club." Sadly, eleven men still lost their lives during the project.
The bridge was built with over a million steel rivets holding its two towers together. It was finished in April 1937, ahead of schedule and under budget.
A Grand Opening
The Golden Gate Bridge opened to people on May 27, 1937. It was a huge celebration! The day before cars were allowed, 200,000 people walked, ran, and even roller-skated across the new bridge. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a button in Washington, D.C., to signal the official start of car traffic.
For the bridge's 50th anniversary in 1987, it was closed to cars again for people to walk across. So many people showed up (about 300,000 on the bridge at once) that the huge weight caused the middle of the bridge to flatten out temporarily. The bridge was designed to do this safely, but it showed just how many people love this landmark!
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A person poses at the railing on opening day in 1937.
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An official invitation to the opening of the bridge.
How the Bridge is Built
By the Numbers
The Golden Gate Bridge is an amazing piece of engineering. Here are some cool facts:
- Total Length: From one end to the other, the bridge is 8,981 feet (2,737 m) long, which is about 1.7 miles.
- Tower Height: The two towers are 746 feet (227 m) tall from the water. That's like a 75-story building!
- Clearance: Big ships can easily pass underneath. The bottom of the bridge is 220 feet (67 m) above the water at high tide.
- Main Cables: The roadway is held up by two giant cables. Each cable is made of 27,572 smaller wires bundled together. If you stretched out all the wire in both cables, it would circle the Earth three times!
The Famous Orange Color
The bridge's color is called International Orange. It was originally just a primer paint to protect the steel, but the architect, Irving Morrow, loved how it looked against the landscape. He convinced everyone to keep it as the final color.
Keeping the bridge painted is a never-ending job. A team of 38 painters works year-round to touch up the paint. This protects the steel from the salty air, which can cause it to rust.
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A view of the bridge from the Marin Headlands on a foggy morning.
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The view of Marin County from the top of the south tower.
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Looking up at the top of the south tower.
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The bridge as seen from historic Fort Point below.
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Crossing the Bridge Today
Cars, Bikes, and People
About 112,000 cars cross the Golden Gate Bridge every day. The bridge has six lanes for traffic. To help with rush hour, a special "zipper" truck moves a median barrier. In the morning, there are more lanes going south into San Francisco. In the afternoon, there are more lanes going north out of the city.
The bridge is also very popular with pedestrians and bicyclists. There are walkways on both sides of the bridge. The east walkway is for people walking and biking, while the west walkway is usually just for bikes. From the walkways, you can get amazing views of the city, Alcatraz Island, and the bay.
Paying the Toll
To help pay for keeping the bridge safe and in good condition, drivers pay a toll to cross it.
- You only pay when you are driving south into San Francisco.
- You can't pay with cash anymore. The system is all-electronic.
- A camera takes a picture of your license plate, or a device called FasTrak in your car pays the toll automatically.
- As of July 2025, the toll for a regular car is $9.75 with FasTrak or $10.00 if you pay by license plate.
Safety and Special Features
Lights and Foghorns
The Golden Gate is often covered in thick fog. To keep ships and airplanes safe, the bridge has special lights and loud foghorns.
- Beacons: Red flashing lights on top of the towers warn airplanes. White and green lights in the middle of the bridge guide ships.
- Foghorns: The bridge has five foghorns that make a deep, loud sound. They can be heard from far away, helping sailors navigate safely when they can't see the bridge.
The Singing Bridge
In 2020, people in San Francisco started hearing a strange humming or "singing" sound coming from the bridge on windy days. It turns out the sound was caused by new, thinner slats that were installed on the bridge's railings. When the wind blows through them at a certain speed, they vibrate and create a musical tone. Engineers are working on a fix to quiet the "singing."
Staying Strong in Earthquakes
The bridge is located near the famous San Andreas Fault, so it needs to be able to withstand earthquakes. Over the years, the bridge has been given major upgrades to make it stronger and more flexible. This project, called a "seismic retrofit," helps ensure the bridge will be safe during a large earthquake.
Gallery
See also
In Spanish: Puente Golden Gate para niños
- 25 de Abril Bridge, a bridge with a similar design in Portugal
- Golden Gate Bridge in popular culture
- List of tallest bridges
- List of San Francisco Designated Landmarks
- San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge
- Suspension bridge
