Fun Facts about the Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco

This tremendous 746-foot tall towers suspension bridge amuses the visitors with its sweeping main cables and signature International Orange color plus the Art Deco styling. It leaves the visitors in awe of the elegance that resonates with the color, light, and sound.

Here are fun and enticing Golden Gate Bridge facts which will describe the history, nearby spots, best scenic spots along with guided and self-guided tours, etc.

The Golden Gate Bridge facts include the ancient truths which are not only exciting but explore the hard work, passion, and fun associated with the construction of this iconic structure. This bridge is now known as one of the most internationally acknowledged structures of San Francisco, California, and the United States. The bridge opened for public and vehicles on May 27, 1937, and at that time was the longest and the tallest suspension bridge in the world. It spans 4,200 feet (1,280 m) and has a total height of 746 feet (227 m) and took a little over three years in completion. On January 5, 1933, the construction of the bridge started and completed in May 1937. The cost of development of the bridge was more than $35 million ($514 million in 2018 dollars), but as it completed ahead of schedule, the cost of construction was under budget. It got reduced to $1.3 million (equivalent to $23.8 million today). The development was under the McClintic-Marshall Construction Co. and Charles D. Marshall, Strauss was the chief engineer in charge of overall design and construction of this project. But as he did not have much experience on a suspension bridge, the need of other experts of cable-suspension models arose. His initial design was not feasible and the final artistic suspension design of Leon Moisseiff, the engineer of the Manhattan Bridge in New York City, got the approval. However, Irving Morrow contributed to the overall shape of the bridge towers, the lighting scheme, and Art Deco elements, including the tower decorations, streetlights, railing, and walkways. Ellis did the technical and theoretical work which helps in building the bridge. He did not get any credit for his works since 2007 when a new formal report on 70 years of stewardship of the famous viaduct was released. The remarkable International Orange color was the sealant for the bridge, but it was not changed after that and is one of the main attractions of the bridge.

The bridge also had other numerous attractions to please the tourists including Bridge Round House, tourist plaza, etc. An Art Deco design, the Bridge Round House, was among the most popular spot and served as a starting point for several commercial tours of the bridge and a private gift shop. Though the diner renovated in 2012, the gift shop got a new place in the adjacent plaza.

The bridge-opening celebration was a huge crowd puller with over 200,000 people crossing the bridge either on foot or on roller skates. It began on May 27, 1937 and lasted for one week. On 50th anniversary celebration, the Golden Gate Bridge was again closed for automobile traffic and attracted approximately 750,000 to 1,000,000 people. This overwhelming response from people made the bridge center span flatten out. It was out of control crowd was not allowed during the 75th anniversary on Sunday, May 27, 2012, and extra measures were also taken care of with the additional law enforcement after 9/11.

1. Origin of name and the purpose for the building of the bridge: The San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge got its name from its location of Golden Gate Strait. Before the bridge was not there, a car ferry or a long travel distance were the only options to travel between San Francisco and Marin County. So, this bridge's plan came into existence to make the distance short and convenient.

2. Structure: It is the longest suspension bridge in the world with a span of 4,200 feet (1,300 m) while its towers, at 746 feet (227 m) above the water. The height of the towers is nearly equal to the height of a 65-story building, and these tall towers are hollow from inside. The 250 pairs of vertical suspender ropes bear the weight of the bridge with the help of two main cables. These main cables fixed with concrete at each end in the two main towers and each cable is 3 feet thick with 27,572 strands and 80,000 miles of wire. This bridge is strong enough to face winds up to 100 miles per hour as the city is very windy along the water.

3. Color of the bridge: Though the U.S. Navy wanted this bridge to be blue and yellow stripes to enhance its visibility. When the burnt red hue as the primer used on it, it observed that this color is both highly visible and blend with the surroundings perfectly. The actual color of the bridge is 'Orange Vermilion,' but it is known worldwide as International Orange.

4. Easily visible from a significant distance: The deck is huge and tall and is easily visible even from Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz, which are at a considerable distance from the bridge. The tourists can view this piece of art even from spots along the city's northern waterfront.

5. Car travelers on the bridge: Over 112,000 cars cross this marvelous bridge every day, which counts to almost 41 million vehicles a year.

6. Driving and tolls: Driving on this bridge is one of the overwhelming experiences and lets you find more about the exciting Golden Gate Bridge. One needs to be attentive if riding on this for the first time. The tolls are no more manual. Click the picture of licenses plate of the vehicles where you can pay the charges either in advance or after you get the bill on your mail.

1. Biking over the Golden Gate Bridge: Biking on this bridge lets the bikers experience the captivating ride and cherish the memories all through life. The visitors can choose from either a guided biking tour or a self-biking trip by renting a bike.

2. Guided biking tour: The Fishermen's Wharf is the starting point of the guided biking tour. The biker needs to ride along the waterfront up the hill and down the slope to reach this exotic location of Golden Gate Bridge. There the biker can enjoy the breathtaking views, click the pictures or ride along with the speeding traffic though in a different lane. At the opposite end of the bridge, the biker reaches to the small coastal community called Sausalito with the help the guide. This place is another example of beauty and has some shops, restaurants, and parks to amuse its visitors. The bikers get to experience the scenic beauty of the waterfront, fantastic landscape, SF Bay attractions, and attractive visiting points of this almost 3 hours journey. After spending some time in this area, the biker has two choices to go back to the starting point. One, biking again to take the Sausalito ferry, which is another mind-blowing experience one should not miss.

Route: Fisherman Wharf (starting point), San Francisco waterfront Aquatic Park, Fort Mason,the Marina, the Presidio, Crissy Field, Fort Point, Golden Gate Bridge,Vista Point, Old Fort Baker, Sausalito (ending point).

Package: A Classic bicycle or electric bike, front handlebar bag, lock, helmet, rear gear rack, and takeaway map.

Duration: 3 hours

Schedule: 10:00 and 13:00 every day.

3. San Francisco Day Bike Rental: This is another beautiful experience one can enjoy while being in San Francisco. It is suitable for fun and adventure lovers who like to explore on their own. There are plenty of bike rental shops in the city which are open from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening. The tourist can ride and explore the city locations and then enjoy the stunning beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge and choose the path of their choice before returning the bike to the shop. The bike rental shops help the visitor with some essential guidance and maps to make it one of the unforgettable experiences.

Package: a mountain bike, helmet, handlebar bag, and lock.

4. Free Walking Tours: if you love to walk and explore the splendid beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge, then the walking tours with guides or without are the best options for you. Many tour companies have weekly scheduled walking tours which are free for the public and help you explore more about the Golden Gate Bridge facts. These guided tours will let you learn more about the history, the best photo spots, views from underneath the bridge, scientific exhibits and views of San Francisco from the bottom of the tower.

Reservations: Prior reservation is required and for a group for six or more separate booking is required.

Where: The meeting point varies for tour companies which are always near to the entrance of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Duration:The total walking is under a mile (1.6 km). The tour lasts about 1.5 hours.

When: Full schedule returns in late March. In the winter, Tour runs on a limited basis.

Cost: This is a free tour, but you can donate or tip after experiencing this breathtaking trip. The guides payment through cash or credit card,whatever convenient.

5. Welcome Centre: The Bridge Welcome Center helps the visitors learn more about the history and more about this dramatic structure and also the amusing Golden Gate Bridge facts. It is the first on-site center which embraces visitors and provides the information about the Golden Gate Bridge through orientations and several exhibits. Also, it has to offer high-quality memorial merchandise for the visitors to take back to their place as a piece of souvenir. Another attraction of this Welcome Center is the display of the original 12-foot stainless steel Bridge test tower which used in 1933.

Schedule: daily 9 am to 6 pm.

6. Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus Tour: The Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus tour allows you to enjoy the 20 mesmerizing locations throughout the San Francisco city. You can enjoy and stop till the time you want to and get back to the bus at any stop. This bus tour is through an open bus and lets you experience the stunning views of the bridge to Vista Point on the north side. You can either hop out at the bridge or cherish the beauty from the bus.

Schedule: Daily except for Christmas Day

Package:

Unlimited access to the Hop on hop off tours for 24 hours

Cross the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito with spectacular views of the Bay

A trip walking

One-hour free bike rental with the purchase of an hour

Starting Point: San Francisco Bus Tours begin at 99 Jefferson St (corner of Mason and Jefferson Street)

Duration: Hop on Hop Off Pass 24 Hour

7. Fire Engine Tour: It is another outstanding experience that one should not miss while in the city. It involves the ride of a big red shiny Mack Fire Engine. This open-air fire engine tour starts at the Cannery in Fisherman Wharf. The engine will ride you to the Presidio, the bridge, and then to the Sausalito. From there, the back-journey leads to the Fort Baker lookout point, which offers fantastic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco skyline, and the Alcatraz. And after this, you will ride back over the bridge.

Includes: 75-minute narrated fire engine tour and a firefighter jacket.

8. Bay Cruise: It is another different yet astonishing way of exploring the Golden Gate Bridge. It let you fall in love with the beauty of the waterfront that lies along with the stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge. You can click photos and enjoy this out of the world 60 minutes tour. This bay tour is one of the most popular cruises and offers an excellent overview of the SF Bay and Golden Gate Bridge both from a sightseeing and historical viewpoint.

Starting Point: Fisherman Wharf

Schedule: Several times a day

Operators: Gold & Blue Fleet and Red & White Fleet

9. Helicopter Tour: This helicopter ride is perfect for the adventure lovers and presents the mind-blowing views of the Golden Gate Bridge from above. Once in a lifetime experience starts with a shuttle from one of the two convenient spots in San Francisco and takes you to the helicopter site. This helicopter ride includes 15 to 20 minutes of flight time and is accompanied with spontaneous description by an expert pilot.

Duration: 2 hours (15-20-minute flight)

Starting Point: Starting point varies depending on the option booked.

Shuttle Pick-up from Union Square

Shuttle Pick-Up from Fisherman Wharf

Shuttle Pick-Up from Nob Hill

Schedule: 3 times a day

10. The Round House Café or Bridge Café: After spending an hour or so in discovering more about the Golden Gate Bridge, you will look for a place to satisfy your hungry palate. The Round House Café features healthy yet delicious snacks, including clam chowder, hot dogs, or apple pies. If you are not a lover of American delicacies, then you can head to the Bridge Café which has in store an array of drinks, snacks, and mouth-watering delights.

Timings: Both cafés are open from 9 am to 6 pm.

D. Golden Gate Bridge facts about the weather:

As it is on the coldest and windy spots of the city, the weather here is about 5 to 10 degrees cooler than other parts of the city. The place can be windy, foggy at times, and requires layers of clothing.

E. Getting to the Golden Gate Bridge to appreciate the beauty

1. #28 SF Muni: The Muni, which is an SF public transit system, runs one bus #28 from Fisherman Wharf to the Welcome Center on the southern end.

2. Golden Gate Transit Buses: Almost all of the Golden Gate Transit buses halt at the bridge but costs almost twice the #28 SF Muni bus.

This 1.7-mile-long Golden Gate Bridge is one of the engineering marvels and is famed for being one of the Wonders of the Modern World as declared by the American Society of Civil Engineers. One must visit this place which is not only the most artistic yet the most photographed bridge in the world.