Comparing two of the most iconic bridges in American history can be a difficult task, but when analyzing the similarities and differences between the Golden Gate Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge a lot of information can be revealed about the architects and the cities these bridges were built in. Both bridges use a cable suspension design, but are vastly different in appearance; which is largely influenced by the cities they were built in. The Brooklyn Bridge looks much more historic with its dark brick arches and its Gothic style. While the Golden Gate Bridge shines with its bright orange towers and modern style.

Built in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the United States. This historical bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed suspension bridge that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Bridge was largely influenced by functionality. Made out of granite and iron, the bridge was meant to endure the weather and the rapidly growing population of New York City. It’s historic look made the Brooklyn Bridge a symbol of pride to its community.

The Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937 and for almost thirty years it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Built almost fifty years later than the Brooklyn Bridge allowed the architect to have better access to technology and equipment, but faced more obstacles when dealing with San Fransisco’s weather. Constant fog and strong winds caused many issues with the structure of the bridge. The bright orange allows the bridge to be seen through dense fog and the slimmer, more open design of the arches helps the bridge fight through strong winds. The bridge was also built with a thinner roadway to allow flexibility when the wind hit the bridge. The giant towers and bright orange gives the Golden Gate Bridge an elegant modern style that complimented the new prosperity of California in the 1930s.

• briefly compares and contrasts the two bridges’ designs, environs, and how people choose to frame and depict the bridges in their photos
  • a notable point in where the bridges differ is the cable structuring attached to the supports. the Brooklyn bridge extends in a spiderweb-esque design from the the tops of the bridges arches while the Golden Gate bridges cables laterally descend from the the top cable that runs the length of the structure.
  • If we analyze the compositions of the photo’s depicting we can also see a difference in how they are viewed. It seems a favored method for photographers to shoot the internal structure of the bridge taking up the frame with its impressive web of wires. While the view for the Golden gate bridge tends towards the bridges profile, each taking the impressive attributes the structures hold. The Golden Gate Bridges awesome size and the Brooklyn bridges elegant complexity.
  • It’s also interesting to note the environment of the bridges. The brooklyn bridge connects city to city, it symbolizes a modernity. The Golden gate bridges strong iron structures  jut from the sprawling land into the ocean, the city a distant hint on the landscape, its becomes a things of nature.
• hypothesizes what the differences in the bridges reveal about the times in which they were built
  • i think the Brooklyn bridge is largely influenced by functionality.  built in the 1800’s , it says to me that the plethora of wire and stone structuring was used to create a lasting structure that would endure time and the growing population of the city.
  • The golden gate bridge, built later, to me says an aesthetic view was used in its design. The structure is confident in its durability with reduced amounts of cables. It has an openness that allows it to both blend the land while remaining impressive. The 1930’s , the decade in which the bridge was built saw an influx of technology, cars where gaining popularity what with the second wave of immigration on the heels of world war ones end.  I think it was built to illustrate the prosperity of California to arriving individuals as well as the rest of the country.
• hypothesizes what the persistence of these bridges (each has been renovated and reinforced, but not redesigned or replaced) suggests about the beliefs and/or values of New York City and San Francisco.
  • I think the persistence of the bridges are reinforced by there presence. The largess of structures strike a visual symbolism in the minds of those who witness it. It no longer is just a bridge or way of transportation but a landmark of the very country it resides in. It is what tourist flock to snapping pictures of their vacations, It is what locals base directions from and what textbooks imprint on there pages.  The bridges become an iconography that represents and identity for the places of there origin which is why i think they are protected from the constant evolution of societies.

https://www.engineeringthepast.com/424-2/

The Brooklyn Bridge of New York and the Golden Gate Bridge of California are both huge architectural and engineering accomplishments of the United States. Both of the bridges are beautiful, complex and incredibly useful and impressive. Since the two bridges were built at different points in time, in different places, and by different people, the structural design of the two bridges are each unique in their own way.

The Brooklyn bridge was completed in 1883. It is a suspension/cable-stay bridge. It was 50% longer than any bridge of that type that had been built before. I think that says a lot about the time in which this bridge was created. People were wanting to stretch the bounds of what they knew to be as bridges, and they wanted it to be astonishing. A lot of pain, hardship and suffering was endured by those who wished to see the success of the construction. I think that may be a large part of the reason the bridge stands as a symbol of pride, hope and awe to the people who live around it and to those who travel to come see it. The style of the bridge is dark like the color scheme they chose for it. The cables are what amaze me the most. The photography that has been captured of the bridge seems to really show the complexity of all the cables and wires and how they cross and connect.

The Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937. The structural design of the bridge is very similar to the Brooklyn Bridge. The big issue with the construction of this bridge was the natural weather patterns in the San Francisco area that could be hazardous to the design like super strong wind and fog. The bridge itself is much slimmer than the Brooklyn Bridge. This probably means that a bit more knowledge concerning bridge building was circling around at this time, and they knew how to make a bridge more efficient with less material. One of the designers suggested a thin roadway that would flex with the wind and allow the bridge to be more stable. The huge towers and bright orange color reveal that the people wanted it to be iconic, and it sure is. Photos that are taken of the Golden Gate are angled to showcase the bright color and the height and size of the bridge.