# What's the most famous bridge in the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609 "2017-09-29T20:51:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/41 "2017-09-30T17:11:04Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I voted for the Golden Gate, but I thought I’d offer up [this one](https://youtu.be/lXyG68_caV4?t=3m05s) for a little hometown cred. That was my first thought when I read the title to this thread. When I was in New Zealand a few years ago I told someone I was from Tacoma and all he knew about the city was the bridge that fell down. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/42 "2017-09-30T18:07:04Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Someone mentioned the SF Bay bridge. I don’t think I had ever heard of it before the 1989 earthquake. I don’t think that is at all famous. I’m fairly certain that \*\*Darren Garrison \*\*actually meant the Golden Gate Bridge. Many people don’t realize that the Bay Bridge is an entirely different bridge. Looking up the most famous bridge on Google, it appears that the Golden Gate and Tower Bridge are generally the top contenders. Of course I had to support my hometown favorite. I’m a little surprised that one other bridge that comes up on a lot of lists hasn’t been mentioned here yet: [The Rialto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rialto_Bridge). ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/43 "2017-09-30T18:43:22Z")
I doubt if Google is worthwhile evidence; due to their wretched personalization and tailoring, everyone and every country gets a different set of results based on what Google thinks is suitable. People on Turkish Google not only get a different classifying than Danish Google, but get a different result than each other. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/44 "2017-09-30T18:45:29Z")
Actually I was recently looking up minimizing location awareness by these creeps, and hilariously the answer was to ( always ) sign in to Google. No chance of them knowing where you are then ! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/45 "2017-09-30T18:48:42Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Tie between Golden Gate and Brooklyn. Tower is a very close third and would also be in first if people knew its name was Tower and not London. For what it’s worth, I think few people outside the U.S. know the Brooklyn Bridge; but most know the Golden Gate (by sight if not by name). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/46 "2017-09-30T21:00:27Z")
Bridges I remember: (in no particular order) Ponte Vecchio magere brug pont neuf tower bridge Pont d’Avignon Viaduc de Millau Erasmusbrug Golden Gate Bridge ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/47 "2017-09-30T21:38:56Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > > [@jtur88](#): > > > > What is the definition of “most famous”? The one most people have heard of? he one most important people (i.e. Americans) have heard of? The one most semi-important people (i.e. white) people have heard of?" The one most Christians have heard of?" The one most people in one of the above categories knows at least something about? Or knows the most about? Are fictional or imaginary or metaphorical bridges included? Or historical bridges longer in existence? How are different criteria of “fame” weighted? > > Don’t overthink the question. Just tell us the first bridge that comes to mind when someone asks you to name a bridge. I imagine what is meant is which bridge would be mentioned by the most people in a theoretical worldwide survey. And given that, I agree that the Golden Gate Bridge is the winner. (Plenty of people are going to name some bridge in their town or country, but I expect the Golden Gate Bridge is going to be named by more people than any other. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/48 "2017-09-30T22:21:53Z")
> [@BobBitchin](#): > > Bridge over Troubled Water:smack: Bridge to Terabithia ? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/49 "2017-09-30T22:28:13Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Bridge to Terabithia ? Other famous Bridges I haven’t seen mentioned yet include the one on the River Kwai, Khazad-dûm, Lloyd, Beau, and Jeff. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/50 "2017-09-30T23:20:40Z")
The first that came to mind when I read the title was the Brooklyn Bridge (I do live in NYC), then the Golden Gate, then the Sydney Harbour, Charles in Prague, London Tower. Then the Bridge of Sights and the Ponte Vecchio. Then I figured time was up and stopped thinking. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/51 "2017-09-30T23:38:29Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I voted for the Golden Gate, but I thought I’d offer up [this one](https://youtu.be/lXyG68_caV4?t=3m05s) for a little hometown cred. Cool but Pittsburgh had the Bridge to Nowhere. > **[Fort Duquesne Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Duquesne_Bridge)** > > The Fort Duquesne Bridge is a steel bowstring arch bridge that spans the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was colloquially referred to as "The Bridge to Nowhere" prior to its completion. > The bridge was constructed from 1958-1963 by PennDOT, and opened for traffic on October 17, 1969, with its predecessor Manchester Bridge (located closer to the tip of Point State Park) closing that same day (it was demolished in the autumn of 1970). The bridge was named "The Bridge to Nowhere" bec... ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2017, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/52 "2017-09-30T23:52:07Z")
My FIL is a Chinese civil engineer who has designed and built many bridges. I asked him and two colleagues this question. The answer was Golden Gate, no hesitation, from any of the three. When my father in law first came to visit the US, the first place he wanted to go see was the Golden Gate Bridge. It was 2300 miles away, and he’d just gotten off an 18 hour flight. But a week later we flew to San Francisco. I think if you ask a random person in Asia they are most likely not to even know what the Brooklyn Bridge is, but virtually guaranteed to have some idea what the GGB is. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/53 "2017-10-01T00:25:37Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Cool but Pittsburgh had the Bridge to Nowhere. Well, I can’t let some damned Pittsburgher brag about a local bridge without calling out Cleveland’s 1932 Art Deco \*\*Lorain-Carnegie Bridge \*\*, with its magnificent 50-foot “Guardians of Transporation” gracing the colossal pylons. > **[Lorain-Carnegie Bridge (Hope Memorial Bridge) - HistoricBridges.org](https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=ohio%2Floraincarnegie%2F)** > > Historic Truss Bridge in Cleveland Cuyahoga County, Ohio. This stunning bridge is a beautiful union of aesthetic superstructure and artistic embellishments. Bonus…the west end lets out directly to the superb West Side Market, where you can stock up on local produce, homemade pierogis, kielbasa, local dairy, fresh poultry and fish and meat, pastries, roasted nuts, fresh bread, and stop at “Johnny Hot Dog” at the SW corner for the best chili dog in the Rust Belt. The stand at the NW corner will sell you an excellent bratwurst on a hard roll – not Sheboygan standard, and dressed with brown mustard and kraut instead of raw onion and dill pickle, but still damn good. > **[West Side Market](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Side_Market)** > > The West Side Market is the oldest operating indoor/outdoor market space in Cleveland, Ohio. It is located at the corner of West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue in the Ohio City neighborhood. On December 18, 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. > The market began operating in 1840, across the street from its current location. Josiah Barber and Richard Lord, prominent businessmen and both former mayors of Ohio City before it was incorporated into Cleveland, donated land to ... ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/54 "2017-10-01T00:39:41Z")
If you have to link to the Wikipedia article (or some other web page) about the bridge you’re suggesting, it’s not that famous. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/55 "2017-10-01T03:45:59Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If you have to link to the Wikipedia article (or some other web page) about the bridge you’re suggesting, it’s not that famous. Let’s face it, half the posts in any thread asking “what’s the most famous X” are going to describe “a cool X that is so non-mainstream you probably haven’t even heard of it”. Bridge hipsters. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/56 "2017-10-01T03:55:42Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > My FIL is a Chinese civil engineer… Bear in mind that there’s a huge Chinese-American population in the Bay Area, which when amplified by extensive Chinese family networks probably means that the average Chinese person is more likely to be familiar with the Golden Gate Bridge than other Asians. I agree that the Brooklyn Bridge is not well known outside the U.S. I’m less certain about how the GGB compares to Tower Bridge for visual familiarity for the average non-American. I’d guess that they are probably pretty close. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/57 "2017-10-01T04:41:55Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > MackinacBridge is my personal favorite certainly ranks in the top five in the world. It’s on my bucket list to cross one day. I’ve driven it. The unusual thing about it is that the roadway is not concrete; it’s a steel grid, because of all the freezing and thawing in the winter, and you can see right through it to the water below. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/58 "2017-10-01T04:46:08Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Bear in mind that there’s a huge Chinese-American population in the Bay Area, which when amplified by extensive Chinese family networks probably means that the average Chinese person is more likely to be familiar with the Golden Gate Bridge than other Asians. On the other hand, there’s nearly a billion and a half people in China, so once you’ve got them on side, it’s pretty much game over for anyone else’s candidate. Any opinions on how well the GGB is known in India? That’d clinch it… ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/59 "2017-10-01T05:34:29Z")
India has a lot of bridges longer than the Golden Gate: if smaller I would imagine Indian peasants — who may only barely have heard of America — are more likely to think of the Shahi Bridge in Jaunpur. A fine Mughal ( Afghani architect ) structure. Bridges are fascinating things. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609/60 "2017-10-01T06:49:18Z")
Voted for the Golden Gate, though I have a soft spot for [Monty Python’s Bridge of Death.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPOyOM7wxlE) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-famous-bridge-in-the-world/797609.md?page=4)