Dean Kinter Photographs of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges

With the construction of the new East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge ongoing, it seemed a fitting time to look back on the 1930s era construction of San Francisco's two signature bridges. Dean W. Kinter was a mechanical engineer and enjoyed the unique status of being the only person involved in the steel erection of both suspension bridges. He was also a highly skilled amateur photographer and took advantage of his access to take stunning photographs of the construction in progress. Mr. Kinter documented the efforts - and dangers - endured by the men who built them.

In 1997 Elizabeth Kinter, Mr. Kinter's widow, donated a collection of 274 mounted photographs from the construction of both bridges to the California Academy of Sciences Research Library. Those photographs are the subject of our newest Research Library Reading Room exhibit; six of the photos have been selected for display.

The Academy’s Research Library Reading Room is open to Academy staff and visiting researchers.

Daniel Ransom - Archives and Digital Production Assistant