Today in History: Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

Today in History–May 27–the Library of Congress features the Golden Gate Bridge, opened on this date in 1937. The orange suspension bridge was the longest at the time, spanning 4,200 feet and connecting San Francisco to the south with Marin County, California to the north. Lead engineer Joseph Baermann Strauss stressed safety during the bridge building, instituting the wearing of hard hats and installing a net underneath the construction that saved 19 lives. Find out more about the Half-Way-to-Hell Club” and other tantalizing trivia tidbits by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access Golden Gate and related primary sources.

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge Completed and Opened from America’s Library

75 Years & Counting: The Golden Gate Bridge Picture This blog, May 25, 2012

Golden Gate Bridge image set

To Bridge the Golden GateThe Hays Free Press (Hays, Kan.), 23 Oct. 1919

Golden Gate Bridge: Plans Are Disclosed” The Washington Times (Washington [D.C.]), 29 Dec. 1922

More Golden Gate Bridge historical newspaper coverage

Panoramic view of the Golden Gate 1902 film

Books & other texts about the Golden Gate

California Here I Come” illustrated song recording sung by Al Jolson

More bridge related primary source collections

San Francisco primary source collections

California state primary source collections