San Francisco Sightseeing Articles

Bridge officials are searching for a new way to cover the cost of frequent budget deficits and are considering adding an interactive experience and a history center to San Francisco's most famous tourist attraction, The Golden Gate Bridge. In recent years the only option to raise funds was to increase the cost of bridge tolls and transit fares, but the fee increases have been very unpopular with local residents who use the bridge on a daily basis and officials are now recognizing that there may be other options.

The Golden Gate Bridge and Highway and Transportation District are planning to explore the idea of building an educational facility that will attract more tourists to the site. The educational facility would include a history center where visitors would be able to learn about the creation and design of the bridge. Along with the educational facility, visitors could also have the opportunity to explore the bridge's cable system, towers and underside. Both the history center and bridge tour would cost a fee which would pay for the recurring budget deficit. Bridge officials have not yet determined what type of participatory tour would be available to the public and have a long road ahead of them before this idea becomes a reality. A meeting of Transportation and Bridge officials will be scheduled after the New Year and a more concrete proposal will be presented at that time.