Photos

A shot of the Golden Gate Bridge. This iconic structure is a suspension bridge, spanning the opening of the San Francisco Bay which opens into the Pacific Ocean. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was completed in 1937 and is an international symbol of the city of San Francisco. Construction began in 1933 and was finished a mere four years later, at a cost of about $27 million. Opening celebrations lasted a week! Many people often comment on its color: it's not actually "red," but an orange vermilion termed "International Orange," which was selected by consulting architect Irving Morrow because it blends in with the natural surroundings while also enhancing visibility in the equally famous San Francsico fog. The original paint was stripped in the mid 1960s and replaced with vinyl topcoats, subsequently replaced by acrylic paint since 1990 for air quality reasons. A team of 38 painters is employed to touch up the paint when it becomes eroded. Initially criticized as ugly, the bridge is now considered one of the most beautiful examples of bridge engineering, and was declared one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.