American Experience (1988)

Episode Overview

Narrator David Ogden Stiers reflects on the creation of the Golden Gate Bridge, describing it as a "graceful leap over an unprecedented space." The engineers faced the formidable challenges posed by wind, fog, and turbulent waters, yet they triumphed so brilliantly that historian Kevin Starr, California's State Librarian, compares it to the greatness of "Hamlet" or a Beethoven symphony. This hour intertwines the realms of technology and artistry seamlessly, just as the bridge itself does. Ultimately, Starr encapsulates it as "a fusion of perfections."