On this day in 1933, work began on Golden Gate Bridge, which would connect San Francisco with the surrounding counties to the north. It was completed in May of 1937.

Just the FAQs, Ma'am. The Golden Gate Bridge, which was named one of the "Seven Wonders of the Modern World" by the American Society of Civil Engineers, is over 4600 feet long ~ about 9/10 of a mile. The suspended towers are 746 feet high, and the bridge clears the channel beneath it by 220 feet. For years, the Golden gate Bridge also held the title of the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Breaking the Records. The building of the bridge broke records thought to be unbreakable. It called for the tallest towers, the longest, thickest cables, and the largest underwater foundation piers ever built.

And if That Weren't Hard Enough... To make the foundation piers even more of a challenge, they had to be sunk in the wild waters of the sea below, which was thought to be impossible.

Big Bucks. Perhaps the hardest part of the bridge-building was getting the Bay Area counties to support a 35 million dollar construction bond issue during a time of unemployment and bread lines. Obtaining the support took almost four times as long as it took to build the bridge.

Better Safe Than Soggy. For the bridge construction, protective headgear was designed. This became a prototype for the hard hat, which made its debut, along with glare-free goggles. Special hand and face cream protected against the wind, and special diets for the builders helped fight dizziness.

One of the longest bridges in the world, a powerful and elegant human structure in an equally beautiful natural location.

History facts & figures.

Golden Gate Cam.

The challenge.

Golden Gate Bridge Fact Snacks.