( CNN ) -- Seventy-five years later , the innovation and courage of those who designed and built the Golden Gate Bridge shine as brightly as the span 's orange towers . The suspension bridge connecting San Francisco and Marin County opened to vehicles on May 28 , 1937 , a little more than four years after construction began . A daylong celebration Sunday will include music , vintage cars , a watercraft parade and technology demonstrations . The events will be capped by a spectacular fireworks display showcasing the bridge and surrounding parkland . A dedication Friday of new visitor facilities and services paid tribute to the audacity that created the bridge and the 11 men who died during its construction . `` Built in the midst of the Great Depression , this bridge is a reminder , no matter what the daunting challenge and overwhelming obstacles , America always invests in big and bold endeavors . '' said Rep. Nancy Pelosi , D-California . The bridge is named for the Golden Gate Strait , a symbol of hope for immigrants and safety for troops returning from war , Pelosi said . Sunday 's activities will be centered at Crissy Field and Marina Green , along the northern waterfront of San Francisco . The bridge was made for superlatives and wow-inducing numbers , as provided by the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District : . -- Each tower has approximately 600,000 rivets . -- The 4,200-foot suspension span was the longest in the world until New York 's Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opened in 1964 . -- Painting is an ongoing task , because it protects the bridge from high salt content in the air , which corrodes steel components . -- The bridge has been closed three times because of weather . What 's the chance of signature Golden Gate fog during Sunday 's festival ? National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Anderson said there will be low clouds in the morning , partly cloudy skies in the afternoon and a mostly clear outlook for the evening . CNN 's Phil Gast contributed to this report .
San Francisco 's Golden Gate Bridge opened in May 1937 . The suspension bridge took just over four years to build . Daylong festival celebrating the bridge is set for Sunday .