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The Golden Gate's Long History

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The Golden Gate Bridge shown from Land's End trail in San Francisco, Monday, May 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The Golden Gate Bridge shown from Land's End trail in San Francisco, Monday, May 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

When the Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937, it was a story of ‘Man harnessing Nature’ for the greater glory of both. Then the world’s longest suspension span, a feat of engineering several times over, it took 21 years to build and came in under budget. It has hovered ever since like a feather above a vast surge of water pouring into the Pacific. Beautiful and orange, it looks today like it was built yesterday. And somehow, in a world that can seem too jaded for wonder, it still harnesses our dreams.

This hour, On Point: The Life and Times of America’s Greatest Bridge. 
- Jane Clayson 
Guest:

Kevin Starr, author of "Golden Gate: The Life and Times of America's Greatest Bridge." You can read an excerpt. He is a San Francisco native and a professor at the University of Southern California. He's author of the multi-volume history"Americans and the California Dream."

Frank Dean, acting superintendent for Golden Gate National Recreation Area, he's worked as a ranger on Alcatraz and was the Assistant Superintendent at Point Reyes National Seashore.

This program aired on August 6, 2010.

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