SF Golden Gate Bridge 75th Ann.

May 27, 2012 marks 75 years for the Golden Gate Bridge and a wonderful opportunity to recognize the history, beauty, and ingenuity of this famous span. The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District will be launching a 75th anniversary program.

The program is designed not only to commemorate the Bridge but also to celebrate its unsurpassed setting and unique place in the hearts and minds of Bay Area residents and fans from around the world. Join us for the festivities!

Celebrating our Bridge: Golden Gate Festival, May 27, 2012

A spectacular festival is being planned for the 2012 Memorial Day weekend. Recalling the historic “Golden Gate Bridge Fiesta” in 1937, the event will tell the story of the Bridge and provide an opportunity for the entire community to celebrate together. Details >

Bridging to the Community: The Anniversary Year

Leading up to and following the 2012 Memorial Day weekend, many civic, cultural, and educational organizations will produce their own tributes to the Bridge. See a list of community tributes.

Marketing and social media campaigns will bring the story of the anniversary and the community tributes to millions of people around the world.

A Kids to the Bridge program will provide an opportunity for Bay Area youth to learn about the famous span in conjunction with other education programs.

Leaving a Legacy: Visitor Programs and Site Improvements

Plans are underway to transform the southeast plaza (San Francisco side) at the Bridge into a world-class destination featuring a new Bridge Pavilion housing interpretive materials, memorabilia, and other high-quality merchandise; a revitalized gathering space, guided walking tours, outdoor exhibits, improved signage and parking, and restored vistas.

The Bridge Round House will be converted from a gift shop to a space for tours and visitor programs. Personally guided Bridge tours will be available starting in late April. The tour program includes the first-ever evening tour of the Bridge. The tours will bring to life the people behind the Bridge, the genius of its engineering, the lessons of its accomplishment, and the facts and myths surrounding the famous span. Also beginning this spring is a commemorative photo program, which will provide a great way for visitors to create a lasting memory of their trip to the Bridge, even on the foggiest days.

The existing Bridge Café will be updated and feature a menu of local, sustainably produced foods and beverages. New overlooks on the west side of the Bridge and restoration of trails leading to the Bridge will complement the plaza enhancements.

About the Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to Marin County. It is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco, California, and the United States. It has been declared one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Frommers travel guide considers the Golden Gate Bridge “possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world”.

DoubleTree by Hilton San Jose is a short trip to the great Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA. Stay with us this Memorial Day Weekend and make a trip up to San Francisco to check out this amazing bridge!