On May 27, 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco opened to the public. Over 80 years later, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most famous and beautiful bridges in the world because of its spectacular location, graceful lines, Art Deco detailing and emblematic color. With towers extending 746 feet into the sky and over 100 feet beneath the bay, the bridge is also an engineering marvel. Visitors can walk or bike the entire length of the 1.7 mile-long bridge, but dress warmly and don’t forget to check out nearby Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Photo by Dave Gordon (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Happy 80th birthday to the Golden Gate Bridge. On this day in 1937, this iconic bridge first opened. With towers extending 700 feet into the sky and over 100 feet beneath the San Francisco Bay, the bridge is an engineering marvel. In addition to driving, you can walk or bike the entire length of its 1.2-mile expanse, bounded on either side by spectacular scenery. Photo from Golden Gate National Recreation Area courtesy of Bruce Getty.

San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge stretches into a sea of fog, as seen from a helicopter. California’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which borders the bridge, is just as stunning at ground level. To the west, Kirby Cove features fantastic views and camping, while Fort Baker to the east offers crabbing, kayaking and hiking near a historic U.S. Army post. Sunset photo courtesy of Engel Ching.

This week 78 years ago, the Golden Gate Bridge opened to the public. One of the most famous and beautiful bridges in the world, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge is engineering marvel. This great shot of the bridge was taken at sunset from Golden Gate National Recreation Area as the fog began to roll in and engulf it. Photo by Dave Gordon (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Here’s a beautiful night shot of the Golden Gate Bridge in California. Duane Jurma took this photo from Marshall Beach in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Last year, Golden Gate was the most visited national park location with more than 15 million visits. Visitation at America’s national parks broke all-time records in 2014 – topping 292.8 million visits to national parks.

Photo courtesy of Duane Jurma.