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There has always been a need to cross over the main channel of the Los Angeles Harbor, even in the early 1870's, when the first ferry service consisted of a rowboat that made the trip to Terminal Island only as passengers were available. Ferry service was the only means of transport for decades. From 1937 until 1957, various proposals were considered regarding construction of a tube tunnel connecting the Harbour and Long Beach freeways. Engineers concluded that a four-lane bridge could be built for slightly more than the two-lane tube.

Completed in 1963, "San Pedro's Golden Gate" was the first bridge of its kind to be constructed on pilings. Construction required 92,000 tons of Portland cement, 13,000 tons of lightweight concrete, 14,100 tons of steel and 1,270 tons of suspension cable. It is designed to withstand winds of 90 miles per hour, double that required by code. The overall length of the bridge is 6,050 feet, with a main suspension span of 1,500 feet and 500-foot spans on either side. The towers are 365 feet high. Named for one of San Pedro's "own," an orphan from the streets and wharves who went on to become a State Assemblyman, it was The Hon. Vincent Thomas who cut the ribbon at the dedication ceremony.