See how it looked in 1937

Cars Rush to Fill Six-Lane Bridge Over Golden Gate

By AP

San Francisco, May 28 (AP)

The first links of an endless chain of automobiles spanned the Golden Gate today as the towering two-mile suspension bridge was thrown open to traffic, and all the region held fiesta.

Yesterday was the day of the pedestrian. Hailed as an achievement of the “impossible,” the $35,000,000 structure carried an army of visitors and San Franciscans, all in gay mood. Chairman Arthur M. Brown of the fiesta committee said the number crossing the huge span was nearly 100,000 in mid-afternoon. Nearly 25,000 persons rushed the 5-cent toll plazas at both approaches as a fog-horn signaled the opening at 6 a.m.

Other uncounted thousands assembled on the San Francisco shore to witness a parade reviving the days of the dons and the old West. A threatened anti-Nazi boycott of the parade failed to develop. German consular officials protested to Mayor Angelo J. Rossi, because two unidentified men tore down a Swastika flag from the street decoration two days ago. Mayor Rossi offered apologies.

Pedestrian day was designated as a prelude to opening the span to automobile traffic between San Francisco and the north coast area. Despite the bridge opening, ferries arranged to operate on holiday schedule to handle the stream of highway traffic.