Description :

Caltrans Bay Bridge 50th Light Ownership Certificate Framed

This framed commemorative set includes an official Certificate of Ownership issued on July 15, 1987 by the California Department of Transportation, recognizing the symbolic purchase of bridge light W-74. The certificate lists Suzanne Vinson Royce as buyer and honors the life of Eugene Mullaly Vinson. It features signatures from Caltrans and committee officials and refers to the bridge’s “necklace of light,” marking its 50th Anniversary. Accompanying materials include a printed technical blueprint with lights WZ-73, WZ-74, and WZ-75 attributed to members of the Vinson family, dated January 15, 2001, and a formal schematic labeled “Exhibit 2,” prepared by the California State Department in August 1971, showing West and East Bay crossing plans. Together, these items document state-sanctioned infrastructure commemorations and personal civic contributions to the legacy of one of California’s most iconic bridges.

The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, opened in 1936, underwent significant structural upgrades and commemorative activities during its 50th Anniversary in the late 1980s. As part of public engagement programs, Caltrans offered symbolic ownership of specific bridge lights to honor individuals and families. These presentations aligned with a broader trend of civic memorialization during infrastructure redevelopment across California. The bridge itself remains a landmark of engineering achievement and social heritage, and this item represents government-issued artifacts tied to its mid- and late-century public history.