Today In History: The Gateway Arch

On October 28th, 1965, the Midwest completed one of its most recognizable symbols.

The Gateway Arch is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri, on the founding site of St. Louis. The monument is 630-feet tall and is the tallest arch in the world, the tallest man made monument in the Western Hemisphere, and Missouri’s tallest building. Built in the form of a weighted catenary arch and clad in stainless steel, the monument was built as a tribute to the westward expansion of the United States. The arch is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. This memorial, dedicated to the American people, has become recognized internationally as a symbol of St. Louis. Four million people visit this popular tourist destination every year.

The Arch was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in 1947. Construction began on February 12, 1963 and was completed on October 28, 1965, opening to the public two years later on June 10, 1967. Following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and the attacks on September 11, 2001, the monument has received numerous security related upgrades. The Gateway Arch symbolizes "the pioneer spirit of the men and women who won the West, and those of a latter day to strive on other frontiers," as written by the Hartford Couriant upon its completion. It has welcomed visitors for the last 52 years and hopefully for many decades to come.

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