Across its facilities, Bethlehem Steel produced over 1 billion tons of steel between 1905 and 1999, a quantity described as more than 12,000 Golden Gate Bridges worth of material. Its products were set apart by high-quality steel that depended on rigorous testing throughout many manufacturing processes. The military relied on this quality for arms and equipment that helped the U.S. win both World Wars. In peacetime, the company focused on structural steel and developed the innovative Bethlehem Beam, which allowed skyscrapers, bridges, and tunnels to span longer distances than ever before. In later years, Bethlehem made top-quality forgings for the nuclear and aerospace industries. The workers in this plant made possible a century of American progress and innovation.
