The Golden Gate Bridge is the most recognizable part of San Francisco’s misty skyline, not least because of its vibrant orange color, but the iconic structure was almost painted an entirely different hue. The idea of connecting parts of California’s Marin County with San Francisco via a bridge dates back to 1869, but plans for the architectural wonder didn’t take shape until 1916. Despite a hefty $35 million bill amid the Great Depression, the bridge project broke (underwater) ground in 1933. When it came time to choose a paint color two years into the build — a necessity to prevent rust on the steel caused by the underlying salt water — there was no obvious choice. The U.S. Navy recommended a black-and-yellow-striped design intended to increase visibility for ships and airplanes operating in foggy weather. Architect Irving Morrow rejected the idea (along with the commonly used gray and silver), settling on the vivid “International Orange” after seeing the bridge primed in a vermillion hue and believing the color would complement the surrounding landscape while providing high visibility. The bridge officially opened on May 27, 1937, painted in its gleaming new hue.
Exactly how the Golden Gate maintains its iconic glow is something of a maintenance marvel that’s shrouded in myth. Popular theories suggest that the 1.7-mile overpass is entirely repainted from end to end annually, or just once every seven years, but in fact caretakers continuously have paint brushes in hand. Crews note areas of the bridge where paint has worn away, then spot-paint sections as needed. The work is tedious, requiring high climbs atop the structure’s 746-foot towers and its underbelly, which sits just 200 feet above the bay. Workers use specialized equipment and brushes to remove old paint, prime the underlying steel, and lacquer on the standout shade. The bridge has only been fully repainted one time — beginning in 1968 — to remove its failing, original lead-based paint; the task took 27 years and wasn’t finished until 1995.
The bridge isn’t named for its color
While the Golden Gate Bridge does seem to shimmer in the California sun, it wasn’t named for its vibrant paint job. The moniker actually refers to the Golden Gate Strait, the underlying waterway connecting the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. Captain and explorer John C. Frémont came up with the name in 1846, inspired by the similarities between the 377-foot-deep channel and Istanbul’s Golden Horn harbor. Incidentally, Frémont — who later held political office in California, ran as the nation’s first Republican presidential candidate in 1856 (losing to James Buchanan), and served as a Union general in the Civil War — has been timelessly memorialized on street signs and city designations, including a bridge bearing his own name in Portland, Oregon.
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