The Gateway Arch, Gateway Arch, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
At an astounding 630-feet tall, the magnificent Gateway Arch remains the tallest man-made national monument in the United States.
Its unique shape and stainless steel facade remarkably represent the history made in the city of St. Louis. An enclosed tram inside the Arch takes you to the top, where you will experience breathtaking views of modern St. Louis – up to 30 miles in each direction on a clear day. Along with the surrounding Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the Gateway Arch opens up a world of history about how St. Louis served as the Gateway to the West for early settlers.
In 1947, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Association conducted a contest to create a structure that would commemorate Thomas Jefferson and those settlers’ expansion into western America. Renowned architect Eero Saarinen won the contest with his concept of a stainless steel arch. His vision was completed in 1965 when workers installed the last exterior shell piece of the Gateway Arch.
It cost $13 million to construct the Arch. The foundations extend 60 feet into the ground, and in its entirety, the Arch weighs 17,246 tons, including 900 tons of stainless steel. Built to withstand earthquakes and high winds, the monument may sway up to one inch in a 20 mile-per-hour wind.
Since its completion, other enhancements have been made to the Arch, including the addition of museum exhibits, a Grand Staircase and exterior lighting. Even today, projects to improve the Arch grounds are underway.
Visit USA. Epic USA Adventure route © Monika & Simon Newbound. All rights reserved 2017
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