The Golden Gate Bridge, which spans the San Francisco Bay and connects the city to its northern suburbs, is one of the world's most famous structures. Its construction 78 years ago over a deep, treacherous channel was a marvel of modern engineering. In this photo, pedestrians walk across the bridge on May 27, 1937 -- one day before it opened to vehicular traffic. Click through to see other photos of the bridge's construction and grand opening.
The Golden Gate Bridge, which spans the San Francisco Bay and connects the city to its northern suburbs, is one of the world's most famous structures. Its construction 78 years ago over a deep, treacherous channel was a marvel of modern engineering. In this photo, pedestrians walk across the bridge on May 27, 1937 -- one day before it opened to vehicular traffic. Click through to see other photos of the bridge's construction and grand opening.
San Francisco Chronicle/Corbis
This aerial image from 1934 shows downtown San Francisco and construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. The bridge's north Marin Tower is nearly completed, although the southern one had yet to be erected.
This aerial image from 1934 shows downtown San Francisco and construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. The bridge's north Marin Tower is nearly completed, although the southern one had yet to be erected.
Underwood Archives/Getty Images
Bridge workers build a catwalk that connects the towers at both sides of the strait so they can attach the suspension cables to hold up the bridge. Workers on the bridge were buffeted by high winds and faced constant fears of plummeting to their deaths.
Bridge workers build a catwalk that connects the towers at both sides of the strait so they can attach the suspension cables to hold up the bridge. Workers on the bridge were buffeted by high winds and faced constant fears of plummeting to their deaths.
Bettmann/CORBIS
Workers in 1935 install the first section of a huge safety net, at a cost of $98,000, that extended beneath the bridge from shore to shore. The netting was added to catch workers who tumbled off their precarious steel perches above.
Workers in 1935 install the first section of a huge safety net, at a cost of $98,000, that extended beneath the bridge from shore to shore. The netting was added to catch workers who tumbled off their precarious steel perches above.
AP
This portrait shows members of the bridge's "Halfway to Hell Club" -- workers who had tumbled off the bridge but were saved by the safety netting below. Despite the netting, 11 workers died during the bridge's construction. Ten of them perished when a section of scaffold fell through the netting.
This portrait shows members of the bridge's "Halfway to Hell Club" -- workers who had tumbled off the bridge but were saved by the safety netting below. Despite the netting, 11 workers died during the bridge's construction. Ten of them perished when a section of scaffold fell through the netting.
San Francisco Chronicle/Corbis
Fishermen on Baker Beach enjoy the view of the Golden Gate Bridge under construction. Work on the bridge began on January 5, 1933, and lasted four years and four months. The span is painted a distinctive color named "international orange."
Fishermen on Baker Beach enjoy the view of the Golden Gate Bridge under construction. Work on the bridge began on January 5, 1933, and lasted four years and four months. The span is painted a distinctive color named "international orange."
Underwood Archives/Getty Images
Two workmen add the last strands to one of the two enormous cables that run between the towers and support the six-lane highway below. Construction of the bridge cost $35 million; engineers estimate that if it was built today, the bridge would cost more than $1.3 billion.
Two workmen add the last strands to one of the two enormous cables that run between the towers and support the six-lane highway below. Construction of the bridge cost $35 million; engineers estimate that if it was built today, the bridge would cost more than $1.3 billion.
Peter Stackpole/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra soars over the Golden Gate Bridge on March 19, 1937, during her first, aborted attempt at a round-the-world flight. Almost four months later, Earhart disappeared over the Pacific on her second attempt and was never seen again. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2015%2F05%2F21%2Ftravel%2Fgallery%2Ftbt-amelia-earhart-crosses-atlantic%2Findex.html" target="_blank">#tbt: Amelia Earhart crosses the Atlantic </a>
Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra soars over the Golden Gate Bridge on March 19, 1937, during her first, aborted attempt at a round-the-world flight. Almost four months later, Earhart disappeared over the Pacific on her second attempt and was never seen again. #tbt: Amelia Earhart crosses the Atlantic
Bettmann/CORBIS
Dignitaries cut a chain commemorating the opening of the bridge on May 27, 1937.
Dignitaries cut a chain commemorating the opening of the bridge on May 27, 1937.
San Francisco Chronicle/Corbis
Military biplanes fly between the towers of the bridge as pedestrians walk across the 4,200-foot span during opening ceremonies on May 27, 1937.
Military biplanes fly between the towers of the bridge as pedestrians walk across the 4,200-foot span during opening ceremonies on May 27, 1937.
AP
The first vehicles, led by a police escort, cross the bridge and head south into San Francisco on May 28, 1937. The structure was once the longest suspension bridge in the world, although it was surpassed in 1964 with the completion of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York.
The first vehicles, led by a police escort, cross the bridge and head south into San Francisco on May 28, 1937. The structure was once the longest suspension bridge in the world, although it was surpassed in 1964 with the completion of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York.
Frei/ullstein bild via Getty Images
A Matson Liner passes under the Golden Gate Bridge on its way out to sea in the late 1930s. The American Society of Civil Engineers named the bridge one of the "Wonders of the Modern World." Since its completion, the bridge has been crossed by more than 2 billion vehicles and closed because of weather conditions only three times.
A Matson Liner passes under the Golden Gate Bridge on its way out to sea in the late 1930s. The American Society of Civil Engineers named the bridge one of the "Wonders of the Modern World." Since its completion, the bridge has been crossed by more than 2 billion vehicles and closed because of weather conditions only three times.
Underwood Archives/Getty Images