The Gate: The True Story of the Design and Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge

by John van der Zee

Highly detailed and punctuated with incisive vignettes, this narrative history chronicles the creation of the Golden Gate Bridge from concept through drawing board to execution

Genres: History, Engineering, Nonfiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[ALLEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid and well-researched overview of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and its technical and political background, with ample drawings and charts. My two misgivings: it's a little too long, and (even so) there's not a single color plate in the book. Along with its unique Art Deco design, this bridge gave the world its distinguishing feature, "Delux International Orange," so that's a real shame. Hence, four stars instead of five.

[Stephen Rech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this AFTER The Great Bridge by McCullough and consider then Roebling wire company and engineering that went into the gate bridge years later.

[georginagem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book about the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Would have been 5 stars if only it were available in a better format, rather than this poor quality print on demand reproduction. I've visited the Bridge three times in my life so far and am about to go back to run across it in the San Francisco Marathon next weekend. Reading this book has enhanced my tremendous love for this captivating structure!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliantly researched book about the history of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. It described in great detail the political and engineering struggles faced by bridge constructors and how they overcame every obstacle.

[Patrick Probably DNF · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book would be an adequate text for a grade school course on the subject, were it not 60% filled with political discussions and needless backstory.

[Pat Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The construction of the Golden Gate Bridge and it's politics and adventures. The mystery of who actually designed the bridge but wasn't really compensated nor recognized for it. The promoter who worked on that for years before anything was committed to. Pretty good stuff.

[Richard]

Very informative