At the time of its completion, in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension-bridge span in the world. It has become an internationally recognized symbol of the city of San Francisco, CA. The bridge itself spans the “Golden Gate,” the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. Construction began in January 1933. Total cost of the project was more than $35 million. A week-long festival celebrated the bridge’s opening. On the day prior to allowing vehicular traffic, more than 200,000 people crossed the bridge on foot or roller skate.