San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge officially opened to vehicles in 1937.
The bridge’s opening ceremony began on May 27, 1937, with a pedestrian-only celebration. Cars crossed the following day, May 28. The bridge connected San Francisco with Marin County across the Golden Gate strait and quickly became one of California’s defining landmarks.
Construction began in 1933 during the Great Depression. Joseph B. Strauss served as chief engineer, while engineers Leon Moisseiff and Charles Alton Ellis contributed to the bridge’s structural design. Its suspension span measured 4,200 feet, making it the world’s longest until 1964.
A common mix-up is the opening date: May 27 was the pedestrian opening, while May 28 was the vehicle opening. The bridge’s distinctive International Orange color was chosen partly for visibility in the area’s frequent fog.