The Gateway Arch
This is a picture of the impressive St. Louis' Gateway Arch. The Arch is situated in downtown St. Louis in the so-called Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. This Memorial consists of the Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion and St. Louis' Old Courthouse.
This Courthouse is one of the oldest standing building in St. Louis. Located just two blocks west of the Arch, it was here that the first two trials of the Dred Scott case were held in 1847 and 1850. Today the building houses a museum charting the history of the city of St. Louis and restored courtrooms.
The Gateway Arch is an amazing 630-foot stainless steel monument. Eero Saarinen designed it during a nationwide competition in 1947-1948. It resembles the spirit of the western pioneers.
Construction of the Arch began in 1963 and was completed on October 28, 1965, for a total cost of less than $15 million.
The Arch has foundations sunken 60 feet into the ground, and it's built to withstand earthquakes and high winds. It sways up to one inch in a 20 mile wind, and is build to sway up to 18 inches.
It is needless to say that the Gateway Arch is one of the most visited sites in St. Louis. On clear days the Arch can be seen from miles away.
