A Sightseer's Guide to EngineeringNational Society of Professional EngineersNational Engineer's Week
 


A crew of painters constantly maintains the bridge's distinctive coat of international orange. It is said that the U.S. Navy wanted the bridge painted black with yellow stripes, to make it easily visible to passing ships.


return to homeback to results    National Society of Professional EngineersNational Engineers Week

© 2010 NSPE. A Sightseer's Guide to Engineering | Disclaimer | Contact: Stacey Ober, pr@nspe.org, at 703-684-2815
CALIFORNIA Printable version
Golden Gate Bridge - Golden Gate Nat'l Recreat'n Area View Area
Exit off U.S. Highway 101, on the southeast side of the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza
San Francisco, CA

Web Site
See official Golden Gate Bridge Web site above for activities and more information. 
Need a map?
Named one of the "Seven Wonders of the Modern World" by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, connecting San Francisco with the surrounding northern counties. With a length of 8,981 feet and main span length of 4,200 feet, it is one of the longest single-span suspension bridges ever built. Its two massive towers are the highest bridge towers in the U.S., at 746 feet above the water. A clearance of 220 feet allows passage of the largest oceangoing vessels. Additional construction statistics are presented on a cross-section of one of the bridge's main cables, displayed near the Joseph B. Strauss Statue.
 
Who Made It: Joseph B. Strauss, chief engineer; Leon S. Moiseiff, consulting engineer
 
Photo Credit: Courtesy Golden Gate Bridge, Hgwy & Transp Dist.