Watch: Celebrate the Golden Gate Bridge’s 83rd birthday from Fort Point
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Join us for a celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge’s birthday — it turns 83 on Wednesday!
The bridge, designed by Chief Engineer Joseph Strauss in 1917, opened May 27, 1937. The world-famous span, which is 1.7 miles long, connects San Francisco and Marin County.
International Orange, the bridge’s famed color, originally was the anti-corrosion primer that protected the steel. But consulting architect Irving Morrow loved the visual spark it provided against the bay’s cool blues and the Marin Headlands’ greens and golds, so it stayed.
Fort Point is the Civil War-era brick fortress built to guard the mouth of San Francisco Bay against attacks; it was designated a National Historic Site on Oct. 16, 1970. It was never attacked and never fired even one of its cannons.
The fort offer visitors a breathtaking view of the art deco suspension bridge from the southern anchorage.
Built between 1853 and 1861 by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Point predates the Golden Gate Bridge by more than 75 years. Strauss designed an arch over the fort so that the bridge could be constructed without damaging the fort.
The fort currently has limited access due to the coronavirus pandemic. For up-to-date information, head over to the National Park Service’s website.
To learn more about the Golden Gate Bridge, check out Angela Hill’s Insider’s guide.
To watch more of our past live streams, go to the Mercury News’ Facebook live video page.