San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

The Bay Area population had been discussing a bridge between San Francisco and Oakland since the 1870s. One early supporter: the self-declared “Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico,” a colorful fellow who in 1872 issued three separate proclamations ordering the construction of a suspension bridge between the two cities--as well as a further decree ordering the army to arrest the leaders of both cities for ignoring the previous edicts. There have been two 21st-century campaigns to rename the bridge in Norton’s honor.

See more bridges, buildings, and innovations from the 1930s in our 1930s timeline, part of our yearlong celebration of AISC's Centennial!