GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE IS A SUSPENSION BRIDGE SPANNING THE GOLDEN GATE THAT OPENS THE SAN FRANCISCO  BAY TO THE OCEAN.  IT HAS BEEN DECLARED  WONDER OF THE WORLD.  IT IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERNATIONALLY  RECOGNIZED SYMBOLS OF SAN FRANCISCO.  IT IS THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED BRIDGE IN THE WORLD.

BEFORE 1933 THE ONLY WAY ACROSS THE BAY WAS BY BOAT.  FERRIES CARRIED FOLKS AS EARLY AS 1820 FOR CARRYING WATER.  BY THE 1920'S THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC FERRIES WERE VERY PROFITABLE AND REPORT TO THE ECONOMY.  THE FERRIES AUTOS FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO SAUSALITO AND TO HYDE ST. PIER. EXPERTS SAID THE BRIDGE COULD NOT  CONNECT THESE LAND MASSES BECAUSE OF WIND AND FOG.

THE IDEA OF A BRIDGE  SPANNING THE GOLDEN GATE  THE GOLDEN GATE WAS OFTEN THOUGHT ABOUT .  THIS PROPOSAL DREW ATTENTION AND WAS MADE BY AN ENGINEERING STUDENT JAMES WILKINS. IN 1916.  THE COST OF THE STRUCTURE WAS ESTIMATED ABOUT $100 MILLION.  JOSEPH STRAUS WAS AN AMBITIOUS  POET AND ENGINEER  WHO WROTE A GRADUATE THESIS AND DESIGNED 55 RAILROAD BRIDGES ACROSS BERING STRAIT.

THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR WAS CONCERNED THAT THE BRIDGE WOULD INTERFERE WITH SHIP TRAFFIC.  THE FERRY SERVICE OPPOSED THE BRIDGE AS IT WOULD END THEIR BUSINESS.  THE AUTOMOBILE  INDUSTRY SUPPORTED THE BRIDGE.  BY 1924 THEY HAD AN ASSOCIATION CALLED BRIDGING THE GOLDEN GATE ASOCIATION.  DISCUSSION TO BUILD THE BRIDGE WERE HELD IN SANTA ROSA.  THE CHAMBER HERE SUPPORTED THE PROJECT.

STRAUS WAS THE CHIEF ENGINEER, BUT MANY OTHER ENGINEERS HELPED TOO.  THE  GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE HAS PROVED SOUND WITH THE HELP OF MANY ENGINEERS.  AFTER 70  YEARS PASSED CHARLES ELLIS WAS GIVEN  MAJOR CREDIT IN THE DESIGN OF THE BRIDGE.

THE BRIDGE AND HIGHWAY DISTRICT AUTHORIZED IN 1928 TO DESIGN CONSTRUCT AND FINANCE  THE BRIDGER.  A LOCAL BANK HELPED TO REFINANCE THE BRIDGE.  IN 1933 CONSTRUCTION BEGAN WITH $35 MILLION DOLLARS.  STRAUSS WAS HEAD OF THE PROJECT WITH MANY OTHER ENGINEERS HELPING.   HE INNOVATED THE  THE USE OF MOVABLE SAFETY NETTING BENEATH  THE CONSTRUCTION AREA SAVING THE USE OF MOVABLE SAFETY NETTING BENEATH  THE CONSTRUCTION AREA SAVING MANY LIVES.  BY 1937 THE PROJECT COMPLETED.  THEY EVEN PUT IN A SMALL DINER BY A TOURIST PLAZA.  IT WAS BUILT IN ART DECO DESIGN.  A BRIDGE OPENING CELEBRATION WAS IN 1937 AND LASTED FOR A WEEK BEFORE TRAFFIC CAME HERE, 200,00 PEOPLE CROSSED BY FOOT.  PRESIDENT ROSEVELT PUSHED A BUTTON TO CELEBRATE ITS OPENING.  UNTIL 1964 IT HAD THE LONGEST SPAN OF SUSPENSION IN THE WORLD- 4200'.  THE BRIDGE HAS 80,000 MILES WIRE IN THE CABLES.  THEY MADE  SIDEWALKS FOR PEDESTRIAN AND BYCYCLES.  IT HAS SOME UNIQUE LIGHTING AT NIGHT.   IT IS A TOLL BRIDGE AND HAS BEEN CLOSED ONLY 3 TIMES FOR BAD WEATHER.  IT IS FEATURED IN SOME MOVIES.

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