Who Designed the Golden Gate Bridge

By: Want To Know It

The Golden Gate Bridge is a symbol of California and San Francisco. But who designed the Golden Gate Bridge? This post will answer that very question!

Who Designed the Golden Gate Bridge?

Many people had suggested building a bridge spanning the Golden Gate. However, James Wilkins (a former engineering student) made a new proposal in a 1916 San Francisco Bulletin article. Unfortunately, the cost was estimated to be $100 million which was far too much at the time. San Francisco’s City Engineer asked bridge engineers for designs which would cut down the cost. Joseph Strauss promised that the Golden Gate Bridge could be constructed for just $17 million. After some opposition, Strauss was given to go ahead to design and build the bridge.

While Strauss was the chief engineer for the project, many others made important contributions to the design of the bridge. Irving Morrow designed the shape of the bridge towers and the lighting scheme. Morrow also decided where the streetlights, railing and walkways should be placed. Charles Alton Ellis was the main engineer of the project. He collaborated with Leon Moisseiff, a very famous bridge designer. Ellis did much of the the theoretical and technical work, although received no credit during his lifetime (Strauss claimed all the credit). Ellis worked off the basic structural design provided by Leon Moisseiff.

Summary: Joseph Strauss came up with the initial design of the Golden Gate Bridge. However, Irving Morrow, Alton Ellis and Leon Moisseiff designed most of the important features of the Golden Gate Bridge and have only recently received credit for their achievements.

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