Los Angeles Times / CC BY 4.0

Frank Merriam

Governor of California during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge

Served as the 28th governor of California from June 1934 to January 1939.
Worked on economic policies during the Great Depression.
Supported the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, which was a monumental project during his tenure.

Frank Finley Merriam was an American Republican politician who served as the 28th governor of California from June 2, 1934, until January 2, 1939. During his term, he supported significant infrastructure projects such as the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, which had a transformative impact on the region.

Milestones

Depression-Era Construction Construction

The First Shovel in the Sand

On January 5, 1933, construction officially began at Crissy Field as the Great Depression raged — putting a thousand desperate men to work on the impossible.

1933