Page 42 - RedWhiteFleet_interiors_Sep10
P. 42

LINKING SAN FRANCISCO TO THE NORTH AND THE EAST, 1930s                                                                                               OPPOSITE: The construction of
                                                                                                                                                                    the Bay Bridge in the mid-1930s
                                                                                                                                                                    forever changed the transportation
                                                                                                                                                                    landscape of the Bay Area. Started
                                                                                                                                                                    in 1933 and opened in November
                                                                                                                                                                    1936, the Bay Bridge finally provided
                                                                                                                                                                    a direct link between the East Bay
                                                                                                                                                                    and San Francisco, allowing trains
                                                                                                                                                                    and automobiles to make the trip in
                                                                                                                                                                    a fraction of the time. The result was
                                                                                                                                                                    the swift decline of the previously
                                                                                                                                                                    essential ferry system that once
                                                                                                                                                                    defined efficient intra-Bay travel.

                                                                                                                                                                    RIGHT: The Golden Gate Bridge
                                                                                                                                                                    opened six months after the Bay
                                                                                                                                                                    Bridge, first with an all-pedestrian
                                                                                                                                                                    day that drew over 200,000 visitors
                                                                                                                                                                    (bottom left), then with a ceremonial
                                                                                                                                                                    motorcade led by Mayor Angelo
                                                                                                                                                                    Rossi (bottom right) that opened up
                                                                                                                                                                    the bridge to vehicle traffic. Besides
                                                                                                                                                                    providing a much-needed link
                                                                                                                                                                    between San Francisco and Marin,
                                                                                                                                                                    the construction of the bridge gave the
                                                                                                                                                                    Bay Area its most iconic landmark.
                                                                                                                                                                    To this day, passing beneath the
                                                                                                                                                                    Golden Gate is the highlight of the
                                                                                                                                                                    Red and White Fleet’s tours.

















                42 • Red and White Fleet                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Milestones  •  43
   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47