Bridges of increasing size and span have created phenomenal changes in the social patterns and economic conditions of areas by effectively eliminating water barriers between communities. They open new routes of communication between disintegrated and isolated communities, provide safe and efficient access to work, schools and recreation for people, and spur economic growth by facilitating trade within and between regions. From the late 19th century through the early 20th century the use of steel enabled the production of increasingly longer, continuous main span traversing large, deep bodies of water. As the symbolic soul of cities, bridges shape a city's character and, in turn, are shaped by the lives of the people served by them.
Golden Gate Bridge: A Monument of the Millennium
Date of Dedication:
May 30, 2001
One of the most recognized landmarks in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge, connects geographically isolated areas of California to the north, in Marin and Sonoma counties, with San Francisco.
When the bridge opened in 1937, with a main suspension span length of 4,200 feet, it was the longest in the world. The engineering obstacles poised by the mile-wide, turbulent Golden Gate Strait led engineers to devise a bridge that required four years to build, 83,000 tons of steel, 389,000 cubic yards of concrete, and enough cable to encircle the earth three times.
Previous ASCE designations for the Golden Gate Bridge include: the National Civil Engineering Landmark (1984) and Seven Wonders of the World (1955). Other significant bridges include the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the George Washington Bridge, the Akashi Kaikyo (Japan) and the Humber Bridge (England).
Additional Information
http://www.webcam.com/directory/siteView.asp?cam_site_id=YCTRSP&logical_path=
/1/11/35/49
Web cam
http://www.goldengatedesign.com/goldengate.html
Brief history of the massive construction project examines the politics, tragedies, and odds that seemed to hinder its completion.
http://www.thoma.com/thoma/ggbfacts.html
Mike Thomas has compiled this fact and statistics sheet about the enormous Art Deco structure that details the bridge's design and lighting features.
http://www.goldengatebridge.org/
The official web site for the Golden Gate Bridge, heralded as one of the top ten construction achievements of the 20th Century.
http://www.goldengate.org/
Chronicles the planning and construction of the engineering marvel of the western world including several photographs.
ASCE does not endorse any of the above Web sites. They are presented here for informational purposes only.
Back to the Monuments of the Millennium main page.
