Today, it is a symbol of San Francisco, an icon of American innovation, and one of the most photographed bridges in the world. Its elegant, orange silhouette stretching over the blue waters of the Golden Gate Strait is recognizable around the world. But before it became a legend, the Golden Gate Bridge was known as “the bridge that couldn’t be built” – a dream that bordered on madness.
The construction of this engineering marvel was an epic battle against nature, politics and doubt. It’s a story of vision, courage and human perseverance that proves that sometimes the impossible just means it hasn’t been tried yet.
A challenge that has frightened generations
Until the early 20th century, the idea of bridging the Golden Gate Strait, the strait connecting the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay, was considered pure fantasy. The challenges were monumental and seemingly insurmountable:
- Violent tides and currents: Water from the entire bay pours through this narrow passage daily, creating extremely strong currents that could destroy the foundations of any structure.
- Gale force winds: The Strait is known for strong, unpredictable winds that can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h, posing a huge threat to the stability of a suspension bridge.
- Dense fog: San Francisco’s famous fog often completely covers the strait, reducing visibility to zero and making work dangerous and difficult.
- Seismic threat: The powerful San Andreas Fault is located just 11 kilometers from the coast, meaning any structure had to be designed to withstand devastating earthquakes.
Initial estimates suggested that such a project would cost over $100 million (equivalent to billions today) and was technically unfeasible. The idea seemed dead. Then a man with a different plan appeared.
Vision Joseph Strauss
Joseph Baermann Strauss was an ambitious civil engineer who graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a fascination for bridges. His thesis was a bold proposal for a railway bridge that would span the Bering Strait and connect America and Asia. Although the project was never realized, it demonstrated Strauss’s penchant for grandiose ideas.
When he heard about the “impossible” Golden Gate Bridge project, Strauss saw the opportunity of a lifetime. He presented a plan that he claimed could be built for “only” $25 to $30 million. His initial design was a massive, hybrid bridge that was aesthetically unappealing and was criticized by many as an “ugly mousetrap.” Strauss, however, was persistent. He assembled a team of outstanding engineers and architects, including Leon Moiseff (a pioneer in suspension bridge design) and architect Irving Morrow, who was instrumental in the bridge’s elegant, Art Deco look.
After years of lobbying, political battles, and overcoming resistance (including lawsuits from ferry companies that feared for their jobs), the project was finally approved. Construction of the “impossible” bridge began on January 5, 1933, at the height of the Great Depression.
Safety First: “The Halfway to Hell Club”
In an era when the unwritten rule was that building bridges cost one life for every million dollars spent, Strauss was obsessed with safety. He insisted on measures that were revolutionary at the time:
- Safety helmets: Workers were provided with specially adapted helmets, which was one of the first mass uses of this protective equipment on a construction site in America.
- Anti-glare glasses and creams: Workers received glasses for sun and wind protection, as well as creams for skin protection.
- Special diet: It was believed that a certain diet could help combat dizziness, so workers were provided with special supplements.
The most famous measure was a huge safety net placed under the bridge. It cost a whopping $130,000 at the time, but saved the lives of 19 workers who fell from the structure. These lucky ones formed the exclusive “Halfway-to-Hell Club.”
Despite all precautions, tragedy could not be completely avoided. A total of 11 people lost their lives during construction. The worst accident occurred on February 17, 1937, when a section of scaffolding collapsed through a protective net, dragging 10 workers into the icy water.
“A mighty task has been accomplished”
After a little over four years of heroic struggle against nature and technical challenges, the bridge was completed. It first opened to pedestrians on May 27, 1937. By 6 a.m., about 18,000 people were waiting impatiently to be the first to cross the engineering marvel. That day, about 200,000 people walked across the bridge. Some ran, some roller-skated, and one man crossed on stilts.
The following day, May 28, the bridge was officially opened to traffic. At the opening ceremony, Joseph Strauss read a poem he had written for the occasion, entitled “The Mighty Task is Done.” The sky was torn apart by 500 U.S. Navy planes, and a magnificent fireworks display lit up the night. The dream had become a reality.
A random, yet perfect color
Today, the Golden Gate Bridge is unimaginable without its signature red-orange color. But that color was a mere coincidence. During construction, the steel sections arrived coated with a bright orange primer to protect them from rust. Architect Irving Morrow noticed how this warm, vibrant color fit perfectly into the landscape – contrasting with the blue of the water and sky, and complementing the greens and browns of the surrounding hills.
The Navy suggested painting the bridge in black and yellow stripes to make it more visible to ships, while others suggested the standard gray. Morrow fought for his vision. The color, called “International Orange,” was officially adopted, giving the bridge a soul and making it not only an engineering masterpiece, but also an artistic masterpiece.
The story of the Golden Gate Bridge is more than a story of steel and concrete. It is a testament to the human capacity to turn dreams into reality, to defy skeptics, and, against all odds, to build something eternal.
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