The Golden Gate Bridge is painted a distinctive reddish-orange color known as "International Orange." This color was originally the color of the steel's protective primer. Irving Morrow, the consulting architect, noticed how well the reddish-orange primer contrasted with the often foggy San Francisco Bay and how it blended with the natural surroundings. He championed this color instead of the initially planned gray or silver. The color enhances the bridge's visibility for passing ships and harmonizes with the setting of the Bay Area, making it both functional and aesthetically pleasing. This choice was also unusual and bold at the time but has since become iconic. The name "Golden Gate" comes from the strait the bridge spans, not the color of the bridge, which is why the bridge is not actually gold-colored. The color's formula is carefully maintained for ongoing maintenance to protect the steel from corrosion caused by the salty air and fog.
