The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary May 27, 2012!

The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary

Did you know?

Although the idea of a bridge spanning the Golden Gate was not new, the proposal that eventually took hold was made in a 1916 San Francisco Bulletin article by former engineering student James Wilkins.[12]San Francisco's City Engineer estimated the cost at $100 million, impractical for the time, and fielded the question to bridge engineers of whether it could be built for less. One who responded, Joseph Strauss, was an ambitious but dreamy engineer and poet who had, for his graduate thesis, designed a 55-mile (89 km) long railroad bridge across the Bering Strait, At the time, Strauss had completed some 400 drawbridges—most of which were inland—and nothing on the scale of the new project. Strauss's initial drawings were for a massive cantilever on each side of the strait, connected by a central suspension segment, which Strauss promised could be built for $17 million.

How are you going to celebrate?

You could…..

Share your Bridge painting, drawing, or other artistic masterpiece

Take a picture of you or your friends holding a “Happy Birthday Golden Gate
Bridge!” sign at your favorite local bridge—a drawbridge, a footbridge, or any bridge at all—and share it with GGB

Concoct a Golden Gate Bridge 75th cocktail and send us the recipe

Take a photo from the Bridge on your 2012 birthday and share it

Post a video of your best impersonation of a foghorn

Snap a quick pic when you see the Golden Gate Transit’s 75th Anniversary Bus, adorned with a Bridge image by Marin artist George Sumner

Bake a birthday cake in the shape of the Bridge and share the photos

Host a Golden Gate Bridge movie night (a quick Web search turns up lots of films!); debate the greatest movie scenes that feature the Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary May 27, 2012!

The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary

Did you know?
Many wanted to build a bridge to connect San Francisco to Marin County. San Francisco was the largest American city still served primarily by ferry boats. Because it did not have a permanent link with communities around the bay, the city's growth rate was below the national average. Many experts said that a bridge couldn’t be built across the 6,700 ft (2,042 m) strait. It had strong, swirling tides and currents, with water 500 ft (150 m) in depth at the center of the channel, and frequent strong winds. Experts said that ferocious winds and blinding fogs would prevent construction and operation.

How are you going to celebrate?

You could….

Tweet about your thoughts and reactions to 75th anniversary celebrations and activities; be sure to hashtag #ggb75

Tell your favorite story or memory of the Bridge; visit www.goldengatebridge75.org/share to add to our collective “valentine” to the Bridge

Write a poem or song about the Bridge and share it with GGB at www.facebook.com/ggb75

Sing “Happy Birthday” to the Bridge and post your video to GGB Facebook page

Upload your favorite photographs of the Bridge on GGB Flickr page

The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary

The Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary May 27, 2012!

Did you know?
Before the bridge was built, the only practical short route between San Francisco and what is now Marin County was by boat across a section of San Francisco Bay. Ferry service began as early as 1820, with regularly scheduled service beginning in the 1840s for purposes of transporting water to San Francisco!
How are you going to celebrate?
You could….

Join the Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary communities on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ggb75), Twitter (www.twitter.com/ggb75) and Flickr (www.flickr.com/groups/ggb75/)

Attend one or more of the 75 Community Tributes being offered by Bay Area organizations throughout the anniversary year (see list of activities at www.goldengatebridge75.org)

Make plans and invite friends to attend the Bridge’s waterfront birthday celebration over Memorial Day weekend, May 26-27, 2012—don’t miss the surprise grand finale on Sunday night!

Throw your own Bridge birthday party on May 27, 2012