It’s Hard To

Imagine

the Thrill!

Imagine the thrill of approaching a brand new golden-steel span from San Francisco to Marin County for the very first time on May 28, 1937, extending across the water where before, only ships and boats had access. The bridge spans 1.7 miles across the gap between San Francisco and Marin County, is 90 feet wide and was celebrated with great fanfare:

“When U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in Washington on May 28, 1937 to signal the bridge’s official opening to the world, it set off a cacophony of church bells, fog horns, car horns, and shouts that inaugurated a week of celebrations. Thirty eight ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet steamed under the new crossing. Flood lights illuminated the bridge at night turning its paint a rich gold, and it quickly became known as the “Span of Gold.”… Eighteen hundred cars and 2100 pedestrians crossed in the first hour of its operation and by midnight of opening day, an estimated 25,000 cars and 19,350 had paid their tolls (fifty cents per car, five cents per pedestrian).” Read more at Today In History

Much has been written about the making and opening of the Golden Gate Bridge. Click historical facts and information for details.

2012 Marks the 75th Anniversary of that historic and thrilling day and local events have been planned MONTHLY to celebrate! Below is a list of a few events. You can plan your own participation from the Official 75th Anniversary site here! Click this link for the list of events as of this writing.

1. The Main Anniversary Celebration is a two-day festival on May 26-27, 2012 spanning the entire waterfront: Crissy Fields, Marina Green, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Presidio, and more! The Bridge’s auto traffic will remain open, and will be closed to foot traffic. There will be no Bridge walk, according to the Official Site, and transit information and other details are in the making right now so be sure to check back often!

2. Share a Bridge Story, Win Prizes
Post your story by January 16th and you will be entered to win a 75th Anniversary calendar, Golden Gate National Parks picnic blanket and Crissy Field fleece vest.

3. 75 Tributes to the Bridge
A detailed schedule of community tributes, including dates, times and locations, will be posted early in 2012. Click Here for a list of particpating organizations and programs to date.

4. GET UPDATES sent to you as Events and Times are Finalized HERE!

We are a lucky group of people to live around such beauty. To walk or bike Crissy Fields, Marin Headlands or the several Surrounding Forts and experience the white capped waves, bundle up against the wind, be amazed at a warm, calm day, watch nature’s whip cream dance through and over the red towers, thick, dense, all encompassing. Or stand high above, next to whirling cars and look down as ships pass under the bridge! It’s all here for our appreciation, to admire, to care for.

Happy Anniversary Golden Gate Bridge!