The story behind the color scheme of the Golden Gate Bridge is almost legendary among San Francisco locals. According to historical accounts, chief engineer Joseph B. Strauss was adamant that the city would not host another gray bridge. After a heated debate with the Navy, who preferred a bold yellow-and-black striped design for visibility, Strauss ultimately settled on International Orange, giving birth to an iconic landmark.
Recently uncovered documents from the San Francisco Chronicle reveal that the color selection process was far more complex than most people realize. In fact, it serves as a cautionary tale for purists who cherish the bridge’s current appearance: a bright yellow scheme was seriously considered.
On April 4, 1935, the Chronicle featured an article titled “Bridge Paint Tested by Air and Wind.” The piece highlighted architect Irving Morrow, who was specifically recruited for his artistic background. He was tasked with selecting one or more colors that would both accentuate the bridge’s structural beauty and harmonize with the surrounding natural landscape, while also proving durable over time. Interestingly, Morrow initially presented a multi-colored vision for the bridge.
The article stated, “If the plan were to be implemented, the approach would sport one shade of red, the truss would have another, the towers a third, and the cables a fourth. The last hue proposed could potentially be yellow instead of red.”
To the modern-day San Franciscan, the notion of the bridge being painted in these hues sounds almost sacrilegious: “Our most cherished landmark dressed in McDonald’s colors?”
It seems that Morrow eventually had a change of heart. As John van der Zee recounts in his book “The Gate: The True Story of the Design and Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge,” he reflected on the local atmospheric effects, noting how cool tones dominated the environment: gray on foggy days and blue when sunny. This realization pointed clearly to the earth-tone of red as the ideal choice for the bridge, which would ultimately become the beloved International Orange representing San Francisco.
About the author