# 3185l - 1998 32c Celebrate the Century - 1930s: Golden Gate Bridge
US #3185l
1998 Golden Gate Bridge – Celebrate the Century (1930s)
• Part of the fourth sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Honors the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge
• Includes text on the back with historical details
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Celebrate the Century
Value: 32¢ First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: September 10, 1998
First Day City: Cleveland, Ohio
Quantity Issued: 188,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Intaglio
Format: Panes of 15
Perforations: 11.6
Tagging: Block Tagging
Why the stamp was issued: To commemorate the opening of the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.
About the stamp design: Pictures a painting of the Golden Gate Bridge under construction by Paul Calle. Includes the following text on the back “After more than four years of construction, the Golden Gate Bridge opened for vehicular traffic May 28, 1937. Boasting a 4,200-foot-long main span, the “International Orange” bridge carried the moderate price tag of $35,000,000.”
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the foot of Cleveland, Ohio’s Terminal Tower Building at Tower City Center. When it first opened in June 1930, the 52-story building was among the tallest buildings in the world and was the tallest west of New York City for 40 years.
About the Celebrate the Century series: The USPS launched the Celebrate the Century series in 1998 to mark the end of the 20th century and herald the arrival of the 21st. The series includes 10 sheets of 15 stamps (150 in total), with each honoring important moments from a different decade (1900s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s). At the time of completion, it was the longest and most ambitious commemorative stamp series in US history.
History the stamp represents: The Golden Gate Bridge is truly a miracle of engineering. Its 4,200-foot-long main section is suspended from two cables hung from towers 746 feet high. At the middle of the bridge, the road is 265 feet above the water.
The idea of building a bridge across the Golden Gate Strait was proposed as early as 1872. During the early 1900s, many engineers doubted it could be done, and others speculated it would cost as much as $100 million. In 1930, after much discussion, voters within the Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District put their homes, farms, and businesses up as collateral to support a $35 million bond issue to finance building the bridge.
When construction of the bridge was started in 1933, the contractors encountered some unique difficulties. To lay the earthquake-proof foundation, they had to blast rock that was under water. They also had to contend with the weather. On one foggy day, a ship collided with the bridge, causing extensive damage.
Construction workers also had to take special safety precautions when building the bridge. A safety net under the bridge saved the lives of 19 men. But on February 17, 1937, ten men died when a scaffold fell through the net. On May 27, 1937, the bridge was opened.
US #3185l
1998 Golden Gate Bridge – Celebrate the Century (1930s)
• Part of the fourth sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Honors the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge
• Includes text on the back with historical details
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Celebrate the Century
Value: 32¢ First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: September 10, 1998
First Day City: Cleveland, Ohio
Quantity Issued: 188,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Intaglio
Format: Panes of 15
Perforations: 11.6
Tagging: Block Tagging
Why the stamp was issued: To commemorate the opening of the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.
About the stamp design: Pictures a painting of the Golden Gate Bridge under construction by Paul Calle. Includes the following text on the back “After more than four years of construction, the Golden Gate Bridge opened for vehicular traffic May 28, 1937. Boasting a 4,200-foot-long main span, the “International Orange” bridge carried the moderate price tag of $35,000,000.”
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the foot of Cleveland, Ohio’s Terminal Tower Building at Tower City Center. When it first opened in June 1930, the 52-story building was among the tallest buildings in the world and was the tallest west of New York City for 40 years.
About the Celebrate the Century series: The USPS launched the Celebrate the Century series in 1998 to mark the end of the 20th century and herald the arrival of the 21st. The series includes 10 sheets of 15 stamps (150 in total), with each honoring important moments from a different decade (1900s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s). At the time of completion, it was the longest and most ambitious commemorative stamp series in US history.
History the stamp represents: The Golden Gate Bridge is truly a miracle of engineering. Its 4,200-foot-long main section is suspended from two cables hung from towers 746 feet high. At the middle of the bridge, the road is 265 feet above the water.
The idea of building a bridge across the Golden Gate Strait was proposed as early as 1872. During the early 1900s, many engineers doubted it could be done, and others speculated it would cost as much as $100 million. In 1930, after much discussion, voters within the Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District put their homes, farms, and businesses up as collateral to support a $35 million bond issue to finance building the bridge.
When construction of the bridge was started in 1933, the contractors encountered some unique difficulties. To lay the earthquake-proof foundation, they had to blast rock that was under water. They also had to contend with the weather. On one foggy day, a ship collided with the bridge, causing extensive damage.
Construction workers also had to take special safety precautions when building the bridge. A safety net under the bridge saved the lives of 19 men. But on February 17, 1937, ten men died when a scaffold fell through the net. On May 27, 1937, the bridge was opened.