S.F. Bay Area— No. California
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Attractions
Golden Gate Bridge
- 75th Anniversary - May 27, 2012
   Golden Gate Festival & Fireworks
- Golden Gate Bridge Info & Trivia
- 50th Anniversary "Bridge Walk"
- Best View from Marine Headlands
- Lone Sailor Memorial
- Vista Point

World-Famous Golden Gate Bridge
The world-famous Golden Gate Bridge links San Francisco with Marin County — it offers some of the most stunning views of San Francisco and its sailboat-filled bay.

Opened to pedestrians on May 27, 1937 — and to automobiles the next day, the Golden Gate Bridge is visited by millions of tourists every year. Painted an International Orange, it is the "world's most recognizable bridge" — and one of the most popular on the planet.

Did you know that 10 million walkers and cyclists annually cross the Golden Gate Bridge? If you plan to walk or cycle across the bridge, be sure to dress warmly. Wear layers — it can get chilly if it's foggy or windy, even in the summer. As Mark Twain was once quoted as saying "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco!"

The span was built to withstand 27-foot side-to-side sways and move up and down by as much as 10 feet — and seismic retrofitting should help the bridge endure an 8.3 earthquake.

"75th Anniversary"
Golden Gate Festival & Fireworks
May 27, 2012 marks the 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge. NO walk is scheduled for the 75th Anniversary, however, there will be a Golden Gate Festival (with the theme "Bridging Us All") taking place along the San Francisco Waterfront (from Fort Point to Pier 39).

The fun month-long community festival will feature a series of live music and dance performances, lectures and exhibits, car display (featuring cars from 1937 to present day), historic waterfront parade, film screeenings, and fun cultural events to commemorate the anniversary — at various San Francisco locations, including Crissy Field and the Marina Green, Presidio, Fort Mason Center, Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. Stay tuned for updates...

The Golden Gate Festival weekend celebration will end with a spectacular 75th Anniversary Fireworks Display and grand finale at approximately 9:30pm. Fireworks will be set to a KFOG soundtrack.

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A new Visitor Plaza is located at the southern end of the span, near the statue of Joseph Strauss (Chief Engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge) — and new overlooks and trails can be found in the adjacent Golden Gate Naitonal Parks.

50th Anniversary "Bridge Walk"
We participated in the infamous 50th Anniversary "Bridge Walk" in May 1987, when the bridge was closed to traffic. Over 800,000 people from around the world (including my family from London) crowded onto the bridge that day — and yes, it was a little scary with so many pedestrians jammed together and nowhere to move. Infact, the arch in the roadway actually flattened under the weight of so many people. But what FUN — it's a day that we'll never forget!

Vista Point
Scenic Vista Point areas are located at each end of the Golden Gate Bridge — park, enjoy the view, and snap photos. Two new Visa Points are being planned for the future.

Lone Sailor Memorial
Visit the new Lone Sailor Memorial — the 7-foot Bronze Statue (pictured near bottom right) is located at the northern end of the Bridge, at Vista Point. During the evening, the memorial is softly illuminated. The plaque at the entrance reads "Here the sailor feels the first long roll of the sea, the beginning of the endless horizon that leads to the far Pacific." Another small plaque describes the monument "Dedicated to the ordinary Sailors and Marines who sailed from this place and did their duty."

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Marin Headlands
— Best View of Golden Gate Bridge
The Marin Headlands is our favorite place to get a bird's eye view of the Golden Gate Bridge and beautiful San Francisco skyline. It's the number one place we take all our out-of-town guests on a sunny day.

Walking & Biking Tours
Walking Tours in SF
Bike Tours & Bike Rentals

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