The Bridge

As a local, Rai, you have to know your San Francisco facts. Below are a couple facts about our famous bridge that many visitors to the City don't know and that you should know, Rai. Let's dispel some myths!
Myth #1: The color of the Golden Gate Bridge is golden or red!
The actual color is orange vermillion, also known as international orange.
Myth #2: The Golden Gate is so named because the strait across which it now stands was known as the 'gate' to the gold country during the California Gold Rush. The truth is that the strait was named "Chrysopylae", or Golden Gate, by John C. Fremont, Captain, topographical Engineers of the U.S. Army around 1846. It reminded him of a harbor in Instanbul named Chrysoceras or, the 'Golden Horn'.
Myth #3: The Golden Gate is continually being painted as it takes one full year to paint it, end to end. Just as they finish the job, they turn back and start painting the other way. Actually, the Bridge was painted when it was originally built. Until 1965, only touch up was required. In 1965, advancing corrosion sparked a program to remove the original lead-based paint (which was 68% red lead paste in a linseed oil carrier). The removal continued to 1995. The Bridge will continue to require routine touch up painting on an on-going basis. (thanks to http://www.goldengatebridge.org/research/ for the truth about our bridge!)