1930s Film on Building the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

Sommer Mathis

November 4, 2011

Ever wonder what it took to build the Bay Bridge? This 1936 film produced by U.S. Steel celebrates the engineering of the structure

Over at TheAtlantic.com's Video channel, Kasia Cieplak-Mayr von Baldegg finds this archival film from the 1930s detailing the massive construction project that was the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

Produced by U.S. Steel, it celebrates the engineering of the structure, one of the largest in the world at the time, and the people who built it. Skip to about 8:50 to see nonchalant workmen jumping up and down on terrifying mesh catwalks suspended high above the bay.

Via the Prelinger Archives.

About the Author

Sommer Mathis

@sommermathis
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Sommer Mathis is the former editor of CityLab.

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