History of the St. Louis Gateway Arch

Standing in st. Louis, Missouri is a landmark that is known as the “Gateway to the West.” The Arch is part of the Jefferson National Memorial. In 1947, a group of civic investors wanted to hold a national contest for the design for part of the Jefferson National Memorial Expansion. Eero Saarinen won with his design of a 590 foot Arch. Over the next fifteen years the design would be modified and expanded. Saarinen never got to see the Arch completed. He died in 1961.

Actual construction started on February 12th, 1963. It was completed on October 28th, 1965. The Arch was dedicated on May 25th , 1968. The total cost of about 15 million dollars. The Arch stands 630 feet tall and has a base of 54 feet. It is also 60 feet deep. It was built to withstand strong earthquakes and high winds. It is built to move at least 18 inches at the top. A wind of 50 miles an hour will move it about 1 and half inches. the total weight of the Arch is 17,260 tons.

The top of the Arch can hold 160 people at one time in it’s 17 foot wide viewing area. From the top of the Arch, a visitor can view both the East and the West. Two trams are located in each leg to move people up and down the inside of the arch. There are also stairs that people can use in an emergency.

There have been several stunts attempted with the Arch. No fewer that 11 aircraft have went through the Arch. The first being on June 22, 1966. In 1980, Kenneth Swyers attempted to land on the Arch with a parachute. He would then re jump from the top. On his attempted landing, his shut pulled him down and he slid down to his death. The pilot of the plane, Richard Skurat lost his licenses for 90 days. In 1984, David Adcock from Houston, Texas was going to use suction cups to scale the Arch. After he got up about 20 feet, he was successfully talked down. The next day he scaled the Equitable Building in downtown St. Louis. On September 14th, 1992, John Vincent of New Orleans was said to have scaled the Arch with suction cups and then base jumped from the top. Park Rangers had a different story. They said that Vincent was lowered by Helicopter to the top of the Arch where he base jumped from. Regardless of how he did it, he served three months in jail for his attempt.

As the Arch was reaching it’s completion in 1965, it is said that Navajo Indians were flown in to finish the polishing of the top of the Arch. This was because of a labor issue by the union at the time. the story has never been substantiated however.

Today the Arch is maintained by the National Park Service. The park is now a 100 acre piece of property. Directly under the Arch is the Jefferson expansion Museum. The museum gives a lot of information on the construction of the Arch as well as historical information on the Lewis and Clark expedition.

When the Arch had the final top put into place on the final day in October of 1965, Baseball Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck did the announcing over both radio and television. An American flag was set on top of the final part as it was lifted to the top and set in place. Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall were on hand for the dedication.

It is the tallest National monument in America. Besides being 630 feet tall, the legs are 630 feet apart at the bottom.