SAN FRANCISCO, CA: On May 27, 2012, the Golden Gate Bridge turns 75, marking the day in 1937 when “the bridge that couldn’t be built” officially opened to worldwide acclaim. In honor of the Bridge’s diamond anniversary, the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District, and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), the Presidio Trust and the City and County of San Francisco are moving forward with a multi-faceted 75th anniversary program. This includes a grand public festival spanning the San Francisco waterfront from Fort Point (below the Golden Gate Bridge) to Pier 39, in addition to robust improvements to enhance the visitor experience at the iconic span.

Under the theme “Bridging Us All,” The Golden Gate Festival will be held on Sunday, May 27, and represents the center piece of the Bridge’s 75th anniversary program. Harkening back to the spirit of the Golden Gate Fiesta when the Bridge opened on May 27, 1937, highlights of the 2012 celebration include an historic watercraft parade, multiple music and dance stages, art installations, history and educational presentations and a display of cars from 1937 to the present.

These activities will be complemented by Bridge-themed events and performances at waterfront venues, including Fort Mason Center, Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. Beginning at 11:00 am on May 27, the festival activities will span a four-mile stretch of the San Francisco waterfront centered at Crissy Field and the Marina Green. At 9:30 pm, the anniversary celebration will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display and grand finale. 

In addition to The Golden Gate Festival, the year-long 75th anniversary program includes:

• 75 Tributes to the Bridge, a series of public programs presented throughout the year by Bay Area museums, cultural centers, universities, arts organizations, children’s groups, and others. Check out the calendar of events occurring throughout 2012 here:  http://goldengatebridge75.org/celebrate
• Construction of a new 3,500-square-foot Bridge Pavilion to serve as a welcome and interpretive center, along with a museum store featuring a wide range of commemorative and interpretive Bridge merchandise. Hours will be 9:00 am to 7:00 pm daily, opening in early May.
• Renovation of the historic Round House into a program staging and visitor education center.
• Upgrades to the Bridge Café, including a new menu with locally-sourced and sustainable items that will allow visitors to savor local foods and beverages highlighting California’s renowned culinary bounty. Café hours will run from 9:00 am through 7:00 pm daily spring, summer and fall, and 9:00 am through 5:00 pm daily in Winter.
• A “green screen” photo area where visitors can picture themselves in dramatic and publically inaccessible Bridge locations, such as the top of the tower and climbing the cables. Tickets and information will be available soon at goldengatebridgetour.com and by calling (877) 349-7625.
• New personally-guided, 45-minute (day) and 60-minute (evening) Bridge tours, utilizing the latest in audio technology will run from 10:00 am through 9:30 pm daily spring to fall. Day tours are priced at $12.95 for adults and $9.95 for seniors (62+) and juniors (6-17) and evening tours range from $21.95 for adults and $18.95 for seniors and juniors. Kids under five are free.
• Other visitor enhancements are underway along the popular Coastal Trail and Bay Trail, including new way-finding and interpretive signage and improved public access; and two all-new scenic overlooks will provide spectacular new vantage points from which to view the Bridge and surrounding area.

For additional information about the Golden Gate Bridge 75th anniversary and downloadable images of original Bridge construction and current day operations, please visit the PRESS ROOM at www.goldengatebridge75.org.

Media Contacts
David Shaw, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy 415-561-3064, dshaw@parksconservancy.org
Mary Currie, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District 415-317-2222, mcurrie@goldengate.org

###

About the Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary:  
The 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge is a project of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in collaboration with the National Park Service, Presidio Trust, and the City and County of San Francisco. The year-long celebration and visitor services improvements are funded by private contributions, with major underwriting provided by Genentech, HP, Kaiser Permanente and Wells Fargo. Anniversary events include The Golden Gate Festival along the San Francisco waterfront on May 27, 2012; 75 Tributes to the Bridge, a year-long series of public programs presented throughout the Bay Area; renovation of the historic Round House and construction of a new Bridge Pavilion Welcome Center and Museum Store; and enhancements to the Bridge Plaza and Golden Gate National Recreation Area parklands on both sides of the span. For additional information and all public inquiries, please visit www.goldengatebridge75.org.

About the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
The Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit membership organization created to preserve the Golden Gate National Parks, enhance the experiences of park visitors, and build a community dedicated to conserving the parks for the future. The Conservancy is an authorized “cooperating association” of the National Park Service, and is one of more than 70 such nonprofit organizations working with national parks around the country. To learn more, please visit www.parksconservancy.org or call (415) 561-3000.

About the National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior charged with managing the preservation and public use of America's most significant natural, scenic, historic, and cultural treasures. The NPS manages the Golden Gate National Parks, as well as 394 other park sites across the U.S. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/goga or call (415) 561-4700.