America's Monuments | The Longest Bridge | 4

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2021

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In the early 1920s, San Francisco was a picturesque city on a narrow, isolated peninsula. Known for its scenic, natural beauty, it had the potential to become one of America’s leading metropolises. But to fuel its economic growth, it needed a bridge -- across one of the most treacherous bodies of water on the Western seaboard.

To build a bridge across the strait known as the Golden Gate, engineers and construction crews would have to fight against blistering winds, vicious currents, and punishing weather. Workers would dive below the frigid water, and ascend to breathtaking heights. In the end, they would forge an engineering marvel at the western entrance to America – and capture the spirit of an iconic city.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to American History Tellers add free on Amazon Music,
0:05.6	download the app today.
0:07.0	Imagine this in 1921.
0:12.5	You're a city engineer in San Francisco.
0:24.5	Whatever since you move to Sosalito across the bay, you have to take the ferry into work.
0:29.4	The only way to get into the city.
0:34.1	This morning you disembark from the crowded ferry and make your way on foot up the hill from
0:38.4	the port.
0:39.4	Behind you, dozens of auto-obiles stream out of the parking lot.
0:43.4	As you approach your streetcar stop, you notice a familiar figure standing on the edge of
0:47.8	the slope looking out at the water behind you.
0:50.6	It's Michael O'Shaughnessy, and like you, he's a civil engineer for City Hall.
0:55.0	Hey, Mike, what are you doing here?
0:57.1	Shouldn't you be at the office?
0:58.4	Well, in a way, I'm in the office right now.
1:02.0	He happily shows you the sheets of paper he's holding in his hands.
1:05.7	The cover page reads, bridging the golden gate.
1:08.4	That's a nifty title.
1:09.5	I take it, this is your pitch.
1:11.2	Yeah, we've got this brochure and a design.
1:14.4	Of course, now all we have to do is get it approved.
1:17.5	This Strauss fellow is helping us drum up support for it.
	...

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