On this day, January the 5th, in the year of 1933, construction on the Golden Gate Bridge, a bridge spanning the Golden Gate (the body of water which is the bridges namesake), connecting San Francisco with cities on the north of the city, began. 

The concept of the Bay Area and America Icon came about as the area’s population boomed thanks to the Gold Rush and the prospect of the area north of the city becoming more prominent, though San Francisco would have to wait nearly 100 years for the bridge.

Plans for the bridge called for it to be a suspension bridge, and being 1.7 miles, the longest of its kind in the world.

The bridge would go on to open on May 27th, 1939, becoming one of the world’s most recognizable bridges (Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District) (History).

To read more daily facts and tidbits and about bridges, see the Barron Perspectives “On this Day Archives” webpage and such articles as “On This Day – November 21st (Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge)”.