What does the Golden Gate Bridge connect?

Why isn’t it gold?

The “Golden Gate” is the name of the strait, given by explorer John C. Frémont in the 1840s, before the Gold Rush. The bridge’s famous color is called “International Orange.” It was originally just a primer, but architect Irving Morrow liked it because it stands out in the fog and blends with the landscape. A team of painters works on the bridge constantly to protect it from salty air.

Building the bridge

Builders faced strong currents, fog and high winds. A safety net under the bridge saved the lives of 19 workers, who called themselves the “Halfway to Hell Club.” Sadly, 11 workers died, 10 of them when a scaffold fell through the net in 1937.

Bridge facts

• Each main cable contains about 27,500 wires; together, the wires in both cables could circle Earth more than three times.
• The bridge carries about 110,000 vehicles a day.
• Southbound drivers pay a toll, collected electronically.
• It was the world’s longest suspension span until New York’s Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge opened in 1964.

Walking the bridge

You can walk or bike across the bridge on its sidewalks. Good viewpoints include Crissy Field, Battery Spencer on the Marin side and Fort Point, right underneath.

For other world landmarks, see the tallest building in the world and Big Ben. Calling California? Check what time it is in California.