75 years of the Golden Gate Bridge (pictures)

On May 27, 1937, a brand new bridge opened to the public for the first time. Connecting San Francisco to its northern neighbor, Marin County, the new bridge -- controversial at the time -- became one of the most photographed man-made projects in history. The Golden Gate Bridge is now a worldwide icon, and this Sunday, it turns 75.

Join CNET in celebrating this great bridge, and get a look at it from nearly every angle, as well as at some terrific historic photographs of its construction.

In this 1936 photograph, Golden Gate Bridge construction workers toil away at one of the bridge's main cables, high above the bay below.

Today, anyone who looks out at the San Francisco Bay will see sailboats everywhere. That was no less true in 1937, when the Golden Gate Bridge was still being built.

A look at the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge's roadway. The bridge opened on May 27, 1937, 75 years ago this Sunday.

Before there was even a roadway, the Golden Gate Bridge had towers. This is a look at the north tower of the bridge, with Marin County in the background, from 1935.

The Golden Gate Bridge has a famous red color, but that red doesn't last long, given the pounding it takes from wind, clouds, and fog. That means it must be painted almost constantly, and this worker, taking a pause from the job, is one of the heroes who braves the heights of the towers to keep it looking good.

A look at the Golden Gate Bridge from the cabin of the Airship Eureka as it flies slowly over the San Francisco Bay.

It's a postcard view, famous to anyone who has visited San Francisco: The Golden Gate Bridge, lit up at night, delighting anyone who can see it.

The Golden Gate Bridge at dusk, as seen from Fort Point, just southeast of the southern tower.

A group of Golden Gate Bridge workers descend the western main cable, with San Francisco in the background.

A look down some of the Golden Gate Bridge's cables at the roadway far below.

One of the busiest waterways in the world, the Golden Gate welcomes a steady stream of ships coming in to both the ports of San Francisco and Oakland. Here, a cargo ship is seen through the cables of the Golden Gate Bridge.

If there is one image of the Golden Gate Bridge that most people know, it's probably taken from this spot, Battery Spencer, on the north side of the bridge.

With its great beauty, and the fact that it can be seen for miles, it's almost easy to forget that the Golden Gate Bridge is a major roadway. Here, we look down on traffic on the bridge.

A look at the Golden Gate Bridge, seen in shadow, from Fort Baker, just north and east of the bridge.

The pilots of the Airship Eureka look through their window at the Golden Gate Bridge as they fly slowly over the San Francisco Bay.

A look at the Golden Gate Bridge, as seen from the cliffs of San Francisco's Presidio.

Sometimes the fog is so heavy on the Golden Gate Bridge that the roadway just seems to disappear.

At dusk in heavy fog, the Golden Gate Bridge is almost a mirage. Foghorns let incoming and outgoing boats and ships be aware of the dangers they face in the narrow Golden Gate.

A look at the two towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, directly to the south.

Another look straight through the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge.

A look at the underside of the Golden Gate Bridge's roadway, as seen from just north and west of the bridge.

A Golden Gate Bridge police officer enters a secure area, with the bridge in the background.

The Golden Gate Bridge is so famous that it almost makes people forget one of San Francisco's other treasures, Alcatraz. Here, in this photograph taken from the Airship Eureka, you can see both.

A look at the Golden Gate Bridge, far off in the distance.

The Golden Gate Bridge can be seen from an almost infinite number of angles, including from far to the west at the Marin Headlands.

In this photograph, the top of the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge disappears in fog.

On March 20, 2010, David de Rothschild's Plastiki set sail for the other side of the world. The vessel, seen here with the large sail to the right of the Golden Gate Bridge, was made from all recycled plastic, as a way of bringing attention to the plight of the world's oceans.

A look at the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin Headlands.

There are countless places to sit and admire the view of the Golden Gate Bridge, including this hill just to the north.

A look up at the Golden Gate Bridge from underneath and just to the east, at Fort Baker.

Another famous view of the Golden Gate Bridge is this one, from San Francisco's Baker Beach.

A look at the Golden Gate Bridge from Crissy Field in San Francisco's Presidio.

As the sun sets and fog rolls in, the Golden Gate Bridge is seen from San Francisco's Doyle Drive -- which has since been torn down.

A look from above at the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge.

A view of the Golden Gate Bridge makes almost any property more valuable, and the neighborhoods and nearby towns that have such views can boast some of the most expensive real estate in the world. This is a view of the bridge from Tiburon, a small town to the north of the bridge.

It's probably not a good idea to drive and photograph, but then again, who can resist a shot like this?