Credit: Erza Shaw
In the midst of the big Memorial Day
weekend, there was a very special birthday to celebrate. The Golden
Gate Bridge turned 75 on Sunday! As a native to the Bay Area, I get
to see this landmark almost daily from my travels around the Oakland
area....and I never take that for granted. I was lucky
enough to watch the amazing firework display from the deck of a
friends home as we all cheered this icon who never
seems to age a day.
Credit: National Geographic
The Golden Gate Bridge is much more
than just a treasure to those of us in the Bay Area; It's a landmark
known worldwide. I would be remiss as a Bay Area colorist if I
didn't talk about it's unusual hue that sets it apart from other
bridges.
The first misconception is that it is
named FOR it's color. It's actually named for covering the expanse of
the Golden Gate Strait which leads out to the Pacific Ocean. It was
named in 1846 by Army Captain John Fremont because it reminded him of
Golden Horn harbor in Istanbul.
View of Strait in 1891
Before the bridge, the bay was clogged
with ferries carrying people between Marin and San Francisco. The
bold idea of engineer and bridge builder, Joseph Strauss, was that an
bridge should be built across the strait.
View of early bridge construction in 1933
It had plenty of naysayers
that doubted it could be done due to the strait's infamous of high
winds. The Depression was also going on and the bridge was opposed by many special
interest groups, but victoriously voted in by the locals
granting a 35 million dollar bond.
Joseph Strauss
Construction began in 1933. Like most
bridges at time of construction, colors under consideration were black, gray
or silver. Since this was to be the
largest suspension bridge ever built, a consulting architect by the
name of Irving Morrow who was working on bridge lighting and it's Art Deco elements,
made the case for a color that was considered shocking!
Irving Morrow
In his report, available here, which is a must read for
color nerds and Golden Gate bridge fans alike, Morrow, states,
“During a considerable portion of the year, particularly during
summer, the San Francisco Bay area is covered by high fogs and is
relatively sunless. At these times the atmosphere is gray. In sunny
weather the predominant color of bay and ocean is blue. In other
words, the prevalent atmospheric colors are cool. A structure which
is to be emphasized must appear in contrasting or warm colors”. He
went on to scold local architects that local color was “on the
whole timidly colorless without the accent and warmth which
conditions call for”.
He ruled out yellow as “lacking
substance” and reds as appearing “heavy and without luminosity”.
He was taken with the red lead paint
often used as primer for steel so his considerations were:
a) “Orange vermillion, or the color
of shop red lead paint”
b) “Orange vermillion, slightly
tinged with brunt sienna.”
c) “Burnt Sienna leaning toward
orange vermillion.”
d)“Burnt Sienna”.
Local artist, Benjamin Buffano and
other locals supported this bold choice although bridge authorities
did not due to their fears of wearability. They relented when Morrow
found a paint capable of less frequent maintenance. The final color
chosen for the bridge was called International Orange (sometimes
called International Airway Orange) and was considered very unusual
at the time. The US Navy was hoping for black and yellow stripes!
While there are exact color recipes available by the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District available here, it is considered closest to Pantone 180. The paint company that is currently under contract to provide paint for the bridge is Sherwin Williams. While they custom mix the bridges exact formula, Sherwin Williams nearest color to the Golden Gate Bridge is Fireweed, SW 6328 and Benjamin Moore's Hot Apple Spice 2005-20.
The original paint, which was heavily
lead based, was slowly removed between 1965 and 1995. Advances in
paint technology and it's resistance to erosion certainly help, but
the bridge is still continuously touched up by a team of 28 painters.
Source: Golden Gate Highway and Transportation District
After 75 years, this majestic lady certainly deserves the continued upkeep and attention. Happy 75th Birthday, you gorgeous bridge.
Credit:Thomas Hawk
