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How many people died building the Golden Gate Bridge?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 17, 2026

While the net did save the lives of 19 men who became known as the “Halfway-to-Hell Club”, eleven men did die during construction. The first fatality was Kermit Moore on October 21, 1936.

How many workers lost their lives building the Golden Gate Bridge?

Eleven men died during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Until February 17, 1937, only man had died, setting a new all-time record for construction projects. However, sadly on February 17, ten men lost their lives when a section of scaffold carrying twelve men fell through the safety net.

What year did the Golden Gate Bridge collapse?

The original Golden Gate Bridge collapsed during an earthquake in 1906, which was later determined to be caused by exposure to winds and long-term deterioration. The Golden Gate Bridge is about 9,000 feet long (nearly two miles) and is one of the most iconic bridges in the United States.

Are there sharks under the Golden Gate Bridge?

While great white sharks are occasionally seen near the Golden Gate Bridge, they rarely stray into the Bay's main waters. Great whites are most abundant near the Farallon Islands, 35 miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Why the Golden Gate Bridge is red?

The Golden Gate Bridge has always been painted orange vermilion, deemed "International Orange." Rejecting carbon black and steel gray, Consulting Architect Irving Morrow selected the distinctive orange color because it blends well with the span's natural setting as it is a warm color consistent with the warm colors of ...

22 related questions found

How many died building the Empire State Building?

Empire State Building: 5 deaths

Although it is rumored that hundreds died during its construction, official records put the death toll at 5 workers who met their fate via slip and fall accidents or being struck by heavy objects.

Did people died making the Golden Gate Bridge?

While the net did save the lives of 19 men who became known as the “Halfway-to-Hell Club”, eleven men did die during construction. The first fatality was Kermit Moore on October 21, 1936.

How many people died building the Ho?

The Cost of Constructing the Hoover Dam

There was a human cost as well - 96 people died during the construction of the dam.

How many bodies are in the Grand Coulee Dam?

How many workers were killed during the construction of Grand Coulee Dam? There were 77 men killed during the construction of the dam from 1933 to 1941. An additional four men were killed during the construction of the Nathaniel Washington Power Plant and Forebay Dam from 1967 to 1975.

How many people died building the arch?

But somehow, no one died during construction. The only death associated with the Gateway Arch was that of Kenneth Swyers, who in 1980 leaped from a plane, parachuted to the top of the arch, and attempted to BASE-jump to the ground.

Did the Golden Gate Bridge collapse in 1989?

Loma Prieta Earthquake, October 17, 1989

Although the Golden Gate Bridge suffered no observed damage from the Loma Prieta quake, since the epicenter was located some 60 miles to the south, the earthquake became a catalyst for the extensive seismic retrofit program that the historic structure is undergoing today.

How many died building the Rockefeller Center?

Official accounts state that five workers lost their lives during the construction of the building. This isn't surprising when you notice the lack of harnesses or hard hats in these stark images.

How many died building the Eiffel Tower?

Like the Chrysler Building, which had 3,000 workers and zero deaths, the Eiffel Tower kept its construction worker death toll down to one worker thanks to extensive use of guard rails and safety screens.

Did any workers died building the Empire State Building?

As it turned out, the Empire State Building's construction was fraught with danger. During the 13 months it took to build, five workers died via accidental slips and falls from the structure, or they were struck by heavy construction materials.

How many died building the Burj Khalifa?

During construction, only one construction-related death was reported.

Did construction workers really sit on beams?

Photo buffs know the truth behind the classic photo: It was staged. The men in the picture were real ironworkers. They did build the structure that is now the 22nd tallest building in New York City and home to NBC studios.

Is Golden Gate Bridge earthquake proof?

But while the iconic Golden Gate bridge as well as the newly refurbished Bay Bridge connecting the city to Oakland have both been retrofitted and brought up to standards that experts expect will allow each bridge to withstand an earthquake of magnitude 8.3 or even higher, Federal National Bridge Inventory Safety data ...

Is the Golden Gate Bridge earthquake safe?

Presently the bridge is safe, with span officials noting the north and south ends could sustain an 8.3-scale quake. The suspension section could withstand a large earthquake, bigger than a 7.0, but there would be extensive damage and the bridge would likely have to be closed for an extended period.

How long did it take to build the Golden Gate Bridge?

Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge took a total of 1,604 days or a little over 4 years and 4 1/2 months. Work began on January 5, 1933, and the Bridge opened to vehicular traffic on May 28, 1937.

Has anyone ever died on the Gateway Arch?

Although an actuarial firm predicted thirteen workers would die while building the arch, no workers were killed during the monument's construction.

Has anyone flown through the St. Louis Arch?

Other planes have flown through the legs of the monument, but there haven't been since 1982. One pilot flew a helicopter through the arch in 1984. A total of 11 people have flown something through the arch as of 2016. Most of the pilots who flew through the arch were never caught.

How much does it cost to ride the Gateway Arch?

Park visitors 16 and up pay the $3.00 entrance fee, visitors 15 and under the entrance fee is waived. On Fee Free Days, periodically throughout the year the $3.00 entrance fee may be waived. Due to security measures at the Gateway Arch, all visitors to the Arch must pass through an airport style security checkpoint.

What would happen if Grand Coulee Dam collapsed?

While that may seem like plenty of time, the Bureau said if Grand Coulee were to collapse, all downstream dams would immediately start spilling water to make a “hole” in their reservoirs in an effort to lessen the chances of another dam failing.