The San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary! This beautiful bridge has been a stunning backdrop to many wonderful memories.
Being born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, I have driven over the Golden Gate Bridge dozens of times and thought it would be fun to share a few facts about this iconic landmark.
First, lets talk about that incredible color!
WHY IS THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE PAINTED INTERNATIONAL ORANGE?
The Golden Gate Bridge has always been painted orange vermilion, deemed "International Orange." Rejecting carbon black and steel gray, Consulting Architect Irving Morrow selected the distinctive orange color because it blends well with the span's natural setting as it is a warm color consistent with the warm colors of the land masses in the setting as distinct from the cool colors of the sky and sea. It also provides enhanced visibility for passing ships.Currently, the paint is supplied by Sherwin Williams and is made to match the Bridge International Orange color formula. The closest off-the-shelf paint color that Sherwin Williams has available is "Fireweed" (color code SW 6328).
WHY THE NAME GOLDEN GATE?
The Golden Gate Strait is the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The strait is approximately three-miles long by one-mile wide with currents ranging from 4.5 to 7.5 knots. It is generally accepted that the strait was named "Chrysopylae", or Golden Gate, by John C. Fremont, Captain, topographical Engineers of the U.S. Army circa 1846. It reminded him of a harbor in Instanbul named Chrysoceras or Golden Horn.
WHEN DID THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE OPEN?
The dream of spanning the Golden Gate Strait had been around for well over a century before the Golden Gate Bridge opened to traffic on May 28, 1937. Pedestrian Day was held on May 27, 1937.HOW MANY RIVETS ARE THERE IN EACH GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE TOWER?
There are approximately 600,000 rivets in each tower.
WHAT MOVIES INCLUDE THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE?
A number of major motion pictures have included the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop or contain scenes filmed on the Golden Gate Bridge. Here is a small sampling:The Maltese Falcon (1941): One of the best classic detective mysteries ever made. With a slow camera pan in a grayish 1940s, several San Francisco landmarks show up including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Ferry Building, and the Bay Bridge
Vertigo (1958): A story about a San Francisco detective and his psychological troubles with fear of heights and obsession over a woman. They spend some time at the Golden Gate Bridge.
High Anxiety (1977): This film was partially shot in San Francisco, with some scenes taking place in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency as well as under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Superman (1978): The Man of Steel (Christopher Reeve) arrives in time to save a school bus on the edge of the Bridge.
Interview with a Vampire (1994): A vampire tells his epic life story, with a dramatic ending on the Golden Gate Bridge.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006): Magneto Man moves the Golden Gate Bridge...nothing to it!
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009): A monster named Susan moves vehicles on the Golden Gate Bridge. Susan is among the crew trying to save us from extra-terrestrial threats, and there's a standoff on the Bridge.
You can find more facts and history about the Golden Gate Bridge on the website found here. Also be sure to visit the official Golden Gate Bridge – 75th Anniversary website here.
Have you ever been to San Francisco? Have you driven across the Golden Gate Bridge?
