The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the Golden Gate, which is the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the ocean. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was completed and has become one of the most internationally recognized landmarks in the world. Eight other bridges have since surpassed its span length, but it is still the second longest in the United States behind the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge in New York City (made famous by the Mafia for their use of it as a gangplank of sorts). The American Society of Civil Engineers declared it one of the modern Wonders of the World. Construction began in January, 1933 and was a $35 million dollar project. It was finished in April 1937 and was $1.3 million under budget. Innovative movable safety netting saved many men during the course of the construction. Of the eleven men who fell to their death, ten were killed in one incident when the net failed under the weight of a scaffold that had fallen.
Interestingly, the famous International Orange color was originally used as a sealant for the bridge. Local residents persuaded the designer to paint the bridge in the bright orange color instead of the standard darker colors. It has remained orange ever since. The US Navy wanted it to be painted with black and yellow stripes to ensure visibility by passing ships. The Navy has never had much fashion sense.
The color of The Golden State Bridge was originally orange vermillion, also known as international orange. This was selected by Irving Morrow with relevance to the natural surroundings and the bridge's visibility in fog.
ReplyDeleteAlphonse Daigle