We're proud to be a part of American progress.

At the time of its construction, many experts said it was impossible to build a bridge across the Golden Gate strait that connects San Francisco Bay with the Pacific Ocean. Strong, swirling currents, deep water (372 feet deep at the center), ferocious winds, and dense fog would prevent its construction.

But the bridge would defy its critics to become one of the most ambitious public works projects in US history, taking four years, thousands of workers and 83,000 tons of steel to complete. The breathtaking design was created by engineer Joseph Strauss, who had never built anything on the scale of this new project.

When completed in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge — described on its opening day as a steel harp by the San Francisco Chronicle — had the longest suspension bridge main span in the world as well as the world's tallest suspension towers (both records have since been surpassed).

1,929,896,448 vehicles have crossed the Golden Gate Bridge since opening in 1937.

The Golden Gate Bridge has gone on to become synonymous with the City of San Francisco — and American progress. Less well known is that Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, a company of Allianz, contributed to making this possible. Fireman's Fund underwrote the construction surety bond for the $35 million dollar project — a staggering sum in the midst of the Great Depression.

"We are so proud to share in the rich history of this iconic bridge whose extraordinary architecture and beauty has led it to become a symbol of the gateway to San Francisco," said Lori Fouché, President and CEO of Fireman's Fund.

Since 1863, Fireman's Fund has been providing property and casualty insurance, travel assistance, and risk management solutions to individuals, businesses, families, and organizations. Today, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, another company of Allianz, insures large and complex risks such as bridge construction.