Rare Historical Photos Show the construction of Iconic Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic bridge that connects San Francisco to Marin County. It is an American icon whose symbolism power rivals that of the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty. The American Society of Civil Engineers designated the bridge as one of the seven wonders of the United States in 1994.

Construction

The construction of the Golden Gate Bridge was started in 1933 and completed after four years. It is 1.7 miles long and 90 feet wide. The area is an earthquake zone, and throughout the year, it faces rough waters, high winds, and fierce storms. Joseph Strauss and his two engineering consultants, Charles Ellis and Leon Moisseiff, determined that a suspension bridge would be the best fit for the Golden Gate.

The anchorages were made of thick cement, and they hold the ends of the giant cables at opposite shores, “anchoring” the bridge to the ground. The two towers of the bridge were made of steel. The roadway in a suspension bridge is suspended or hung from strong wire cables. The cables are flexible, allowing the bridge to expand and contract in hot and cold weather and swing in high winds without breaking.

Opening

Eighteen hundred cars and 2,100 pedestrians crossed in the first hour of its operation. By midnight of opening day, an estimated 25,000 vehicles and 19,350 pedestrians had paid their tolls (fifty cents per car, five cents per pedestrian). By the end of its first fiscal year, 3,326,521 vehicles had crossed. By the end of 1970, the annual number was 33 million.

Here below are amazing historical photos that show the construction of the iconic structure.

#1 Labors are working on the catwalk, sending pieces down a ramp system, 1930s.

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#2 The Golden Gate Bridge under construction with riveters at work in cages on the South Tower, 1935.

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#3 The Golden Gate Bridge under construction with workmen putting the finishing touches on the South Tower, 1935.

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#4 View of the Golden Gate Bridge under construction, 1935.

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#5 The construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, with the catwalks attached to the cables in preparation of the building of the roadbed, 1935.

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#6 Fishermen on Baker Beach enjoy the view of the Golden Gate Bridge under construction, 1936.

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#7 The anchorage of the cables supporting the bridge across the golden gate, which must support the terrific weight of the structure.

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#8 South tower of Golden Gate Bridge under construction.

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#9 Pylon S-1, Old Fort Point the North and South Towers.

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#10 The China Clipper is shown flying over the incomplete Golden Gate Bridge.

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#11 A man with a 1933 Packard on the trestle to the South Tower during the beginning of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge

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#12 The Golden Gate Bridge under construction with two workers on the saddle atop the Marin Tower, 746 feet above the water, San Francisco, California, 1934.

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#13 View of the Marin Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge under construction at a current height of 520 feet.

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#14 Marin Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge under construction, 1934

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#15 One of the stanchions erected in the building of the Golden Gate bridge, connecting Marin and San Francisco, casts a shadow over houses at its foot.

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#16 Golden Gate Tower under construction from San Francisco looking towards the mountains of Marin County

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#17 Marina and the Presidio of the Golden Gate Bridge under construction with the Palace of Fine Arts in the lower center, 1935.

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#18 Cables suspended on the Golden Gate Bridge between the towers before being bound together to support the roadbed that will hang below them.

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#19 Chief Engineer and builder of the Golden Gate Bridge, Joseph Strauss, and Assistant Chief Engineer William Payne.

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#20 A man standing on the first cables during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge with the Presidio and San Francisco, 1935.

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#21 View of the construction of the Bay Bridge, 1935.

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#22 Labor Secretary Frances Perkins Visits Golden Gate Bridge Construction.

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#23 The Golden Gate Bridge under construction with the Pylon #1 and the North and South Towers rising above Fort Point, 1935.

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#24 A worker running up one of the catwalks being built for the construction of the cable of the Golden Gate Bridge.

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#25 Workers are shown standing on a catwalk working on the cables of the Golden Gate Bridge spanning San Francisco Bay.

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#26 Presidio of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge with the cables being installed, 1935.

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#27 The Golden Gate Bridge under construction, 1934.

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#28 Men on the catwalk cable spinning, 1935.

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#29 Workers on the catwalks bundling the cables during the construction of the cables of the Golden Gate Bridge, 1935.

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#30 A US Navy battleship cruises under the cables of the Golden Gate Bridge as it is being built, 1936.

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#31 Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge with a view of the catwalks being placed under the cables, 1936.

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#32 Engineers surveying Golden Gate Bridge construction, 1936.

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#33 A workman walks on the levee that connects Fort Point to the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge while it is under construction, 1936.

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#34 Setting roadbed sections in the fog during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, October 29, 1936.

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#35 Construction workers attaching steel beams to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco during its construction.

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#36 Two construction workers on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco during its construction.

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#37 Workers in the fog installing the roadbed during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, 1937.

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#38 Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge with men on the catwalks working on the cables, San Francisco, 1937.

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#39 Golden Gate bridge construction, 1937.

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#40 Two workmen adding the last two strands to one of the two enormous cables to the structure that supports a 6-lane highway, during construction of the Golden Gate Bridge.

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#41 Aerial view of cables during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

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#42 Men standing on a platform during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

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#43 Aerial view of cables during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, 1940.

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#44 Scene of the Golden Gate Bridge during its construction in San Francisco, 1940.

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#45 Gate Bridge during its construction in San Francisco, California, 1940.

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#46 Men sitting on a platform during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, 1940.

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#47 People working on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, 1940.

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#48 Construction workers crossing a girder during building work on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

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#49 Golden Gate Bridge employees since before construction enjoy some birthday cake. May 25, 1961.

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