The Golden Gate Bridge In Photos, From 1937 To 2012

May 27th, 2012 marked the 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Built to provide a practical route between Marin County and San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge cost $35 million dollars to build and took over four years, with construction beginning in 1933, and the planning for it going back long before that. Since opening, the bridge has become one of the most iconic symbols of San Francisco, and stood as the world’s longest suspension bridge until 1964, when the Verrazano-Narrows bridge was completed in New York City. Contrary to popular belief, the bridge is not painted end-to-end each year, and only requires touch-up work. This, however, does require ongoing maintenance, and is currently staffed by 28 painters, as well as iron workers and other crew members that are essential to this task.

Over the years, the bridge itself hasn’t changed much, but the world around it certainly has. Nonetheless, the bridge continues to be a symbol of pride and beauty for San Francisco and visitors alike.

Source: goldengatebridge.org

1. 1937

A Fresno resident poses with her family on the first day the bridge opened to pedestrians.

Source: fresnobee.com

2. 1938

President Franklin Roosevelt on the bridge for a ceremony.

Source: sfgate.com

3. 1939

Source: ortega14

4. 1940

Source: bennetthall

5. 1941

View from the Top of the Mark restaurant.

Source: flickr.com

6. 1942

The USS San Francisco returning damaged from the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

7. 1943

A disabled veteran and his son gaze at the Golden Gate Bridge from Baker Beach.

Source: usnationalarchives

8. 1944

A U.S. Navy airship passes over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Source: upload.wikimedia.org

9. 1945

Source: photosofoldamerica.com

10. 1946

Navy demolition experts haul a torpedo out of the bay at Baker Beach.

Source: ohmsweetohmdotme.wordpress.com

11. 1947

This stunning shot captures a AT-6A aircraft across from the Golden Gate Bridge.

Source: flickr.com

12. 1948

View from under the bridge.

Source: pinterest.com

13. 1949

Source: flickr.com

14. 1950

Source: vintag.es

15. 1951

Source: kogepan

16. 1952

Source: hollywoodplace

17. 1953

Source: nat507

18. 1954

Fitness legend Jack LaLanne emerges from the ocean after setting a record for swimming the length of the Golden Gate Bridge while towing 140 pounds of equipment.

Source: cbsnews.com

19. 1955

View from on top of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Source: vintag.es

20. 1956

Source: carlsoldphotos

21. 1957

Members of the San Francisco Ballet underneath the bridge.

Source: across-the-oonaverse.tumblr.com

22. 1958

Source: mister_goleta

23. 1959

Source: archives.evergreen.edu

24. 1960

Source: leonandloisphotos

25. 1961

A bridge painter at work.

Source: flickr.com

26. 1962

Source: blog.hemmings.com

27. 1963

Source: flickr.com

28. 1964

Source: flickr.com

29. 1965

The Golden Gate Bridge from a whaling vessel, 7 years before its ban.

Source: kqedquest

30. 1966

Source: gbernhardt

31. 1967

Source: wl-bregar

32. 1968

Source: flickr.com

33. 1969

Uncensored original version at the source.

Source: mgoard

34. 1970

On top of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Source: richardcclark

35. 1971

Source: raisonettes

36. 1972

Richard Nixon at the bridge.

Source: nps.gov

37. 1973

Source: nguyen_ngoc_chinh

38. 1974

Source: fritsklijn

39. 1975

Source: dontaylor50

40. 1976

Snow in the headlands north of Golden Gate Bridge.

Source: cbssanfran.files.wordpress.com

41. 1977

Source: nevilles

42. 1978

Source: vntghippy

43. 1979

1979 album cover for the experimental music group The Residents.

Source: flickr.com

44. 1980

During a traffic jam.

Source: blog.sfgate.com

45. 1981

Source: shellysblogger

46. 1982

Source: lotus07

47. 1983

The nuclear-powered U.S.S. Enterprise passes under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Source: blog.sfgate.com

48. 1984

Source: sfgate.com

49. 1985

Source: gord99

50. 1986

Source: aresauburnphotos

51. 1987

At the Golden Gate Bridge’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Source: vntghippy

52. 1988

Source: blog.sfgate.com

53. 1989

Source: frankpicard

54. 1990

Source: flickr.com

55. 1991

Source: exfordy

56. 1992

Source: bennetthall

57. 1993

Source: nabbalicious

58. 1994

Source: publicresourceorg

59. 1995

The view from Coit Tower.

Source: uncle_buddha

60. 1996

Source: cepinoo

61. 1997

Source: leonandloisphotos

62. 1998

Source: alexander_barreto

63. 1999

Source: flickr.com

64. 2000

Source: gregadams

65. 2001

Source: bstorage

66. 2002

Source: c-j-b

67. 2003

The Blue Angels performing in San Francisco.

Source: davidwfx

68. 2004

Source: davidwfx

69. 2005

Source: paul-w-locke

70. 2006

Source: o_caritas

71. 2007

Source: lepixii

72. 2008

Source: blondecavefish

73. 2009

Source: theangryluddite

74. 2010

Source: theangryluddite

75. 2011

Source: maxxwellsmart

76. 2012

From the 75th Anniversary Celebration.

Source: rkroenert

Bonus Round 1:

The Golden Gate before the Bridge, by Ansel Adams.

Source: archives.evergreen.edu

Bonus Round 2:

The ‘Penguin Chorus’ on the bridge from opening festivities in 1937.

Source: debbipete.tumblr.com

Bonus Round 3:

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=egdvuFZFucA.

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge in 1946

Via: youtube.com

Bridge, you are magnificent.