The Golden Gate Bridge: a suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County. Construction began in 1933 and carried on for four years before the massive structure was completed in 1937. Take a look at the construction process of this great landmark, as thankfully photographers took photos during the entire project.
Breaking ground on the South tower
The Golden Gate Bridge is composed of two main towers, the South, which is closer to San Francisco, and the Marin, which is closer to Marin County. Here, a man stands with his car at what is the beginning of construction on the South tower.
Work starts on the Marin tower
Here is a good look at what the construction on the main towers looked like. Rising straight up from the ground, the Marin tower, (and the not-pictured South tower) will serve as the structural supports for the suspension bridge.
The Marin tower nears completion
As their construction is completed, the Marin and South towers stand at a whopping 746 feet tall. Now that the vertical supports are in place and completed, the next step of completing the bridge can begin.
Stringing the cables
A construction worker stands at the top of one of the main towers, balancing on some of the first cables to be strung between them. The cables help to divert the tension of the bridge toward the main towers.
Starting on the catwalk
Once the cables are in place, construction workers can then start on the catwalk. The catwalk is a narrow walkway that provides workers with access to various parts of the bridge for construction, maintenance, and inspection.
What a view
As the workers build the catwalk, they are given some pretty incredible views, including this one.
The chains are laid
Chains are laid between the cables of the bridge so that workers may transport materials to and from various sections of the bridge.
Sending supplies down the lines
You’d have to have a pretty steel stomach to walk materials across the chain walkway that high in the sky – this is certainly not a job for the faint of heart.
Entryway is coming along finely
With the towers finished and the cables between them linked, construction on the entryways to the bridge can begin.
Just missing the road
Onlookers from afar can easily take note of the bridge’s progress. From this view, it is easy to see that all that’s really missing from the Golden Gate Bridge is its road!
Speaking of the road
Building the road of the bridge is probably one of the most interesting parts of bridge development. First, vertical cables must be dropped from the main cables. Then, the steel road deck can be laid down. (Bridge maintenance several years later saw the laying of two inches of epoxy asphalt over the steel road).
The bridge is complete
Finally, after four laborious years, the Golden Gate Bridge is completed.
Let’s see her in color
Here she is in all of her iconic orange glory.