Gateway Arch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gateway Arch |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Alternative names |
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Structural expressionism |
| Location | 100 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63102 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 38°37′29″N 90°11′06″W / 38.6246°N 90.1850°W |
| Construction started | February 12, 1963 |
| Completed | October 28, 1965 |
| Inaugurated | June 10, 1967 |
| Cost | $13 million (c. $86.5 million in 2021) |
| Height | 630 ft (192 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Other dimensions | 630 ft (192 m) width |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Eero Saarinen |
| Architecture firm | Eero Saarinen and Associates |
| Structural engineer | Severud Associates |
| Main contractor | MacDonald Construction Co. |
|
Gateway Arch
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001423 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 28, 1987 |
| Designated NHL | May 28, 1987 |
The Gateway Arch is a giant 630-foot-tall (192 m) monument in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It is covered in shiny stainless steel and shaped like a special kind of arch called a catenary arch. This makes it the tallest arch in the world and the tallest building you can visit in Missouri. Some people even say it's the tallest human-made monument in the Western Hemisphere!
The Arch was built to celebrate the westward expansion of the United States, which means how people moved west across America long ago. It is often called "The Gateway to the West." Today, it is a National Historic Landmark within the Gateway Arch National Park. It's a very popular place for tourists and a famous symbol of St. Louis around the world.
A Finnish-American architect named Eero Saarinen designed the Arch in 1947. Building started on February 12, 1963, and finished on October 28, 1965. The whole project cost about $13 million. The Arch officially opened to visitors on June 10, 1967. It stands on the west bank of the Mississippi River, where St. Louis was first founded in 1764.
Contents
The Story Behind the Gateway Arch
How the Idea for the Arch Began
In the early 1930s, a community leader named Luther Ely Smith had a big idea. He thought that building a special memorial along the St. Louis riverfront would make the area lively again. It would also create many jobs during the Great Depression, a time when many people needed work.
Smith shared his idea with the mayor, and soon a group was formed to make the memorial happen. They wanted to honor the people who helped America expand westward, like President Jefferson and explorers Lewis and Clark. Many local people were unsure about spending public money on such a large project. But Smith believed that "spiritual things," like inspiring monuments, were just as important as practical needs.
The group hoped to raise $30 million for the monument. They asked the government for most of the money. The project promised to create thousands of jobs for several years.
.jpg)
After much discussion and planning, President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved the memorial in 1935. He set aside 82 acres of land for it, making it the first National Historic Site. The project aimed to both remember history and create jobs. Some people still disagreed, calling it a waste of money.
Clearing the Way for Construction
From 1936 to 1939, the land for the Arch was prepared. Old buildings in the area were bought by the government and then carefully taken down. By 1942, most of the demolition was complete. Only a few historic buildings, like the Old Cathedral, were kept because of their importance.
One big challenge was the railroad tracks along the river. These tracks blocked the view from where the memorial would be. It took many years to figure out a plan to move the tracks into a tunnel. This way, the Arch would have a clear view of the Mississippi River.
Designing the Iconic Arch
In 1944, Luther Ely Smith imagined a memorial that would be "transcending in spiritual and aesthetic values." He thought it should be a single, powerful symbol of American culture.
So, in 1945, a competition was announced to find the best design for the memorial. Many architects submitted their ideas. The jury, a group of experts, looked at 172 designs.
One of the finalists was Eero Saarinen. His design, a soaring arch, was praised as "beautiful, perhaps inspired." Saarinen wanted the Arch to be 630 feet (190 m) tall. He also imagined the area around it as a "forest-like park," a green escape from the city.
In February 1948, Saarinen's design was chosen unanimously. The jury loved its "profoundly evocative and truly monumental expression." This was Saarinen's first major architectural design that he created on his own.
Some people criticized the design, comparing it to arches from other countries. But Saarinen thought this was "preposterous." He explained that the arch shape is a basic, natural form, not tied to any specific political idea.
Building the Gateway Arch
Starting Construction
After years of planning and moving the railroad tracks, construction of the Arch itself began on February 12, 1963. The first steel triangle piece for the south leg was carefully put into place.
The Arch was built from 142 large, prefabricated sections of stainless steel. These sections were shaped like triangles and got narrower as they went up. Cranes and derricks lifted each piece into position. Once a section was in place, its double walls were filled with concrete to make it strong. To keep the legs steady during construction, a special support structure was placed between them high up.
The builders hoped to finish the Arch by the fall of 1964. This would have been in time for St. Louis's 200th birthday. Thankfully, no workers lost their lives during the construction of this amazing project.
The Final Piece: Topping Out
The very last piece of the Arch, called the keystone, was put into place on October 28, 1965. This triangular section weighed 10-short-ton (9.1 t) and was 8-foot-long (2.4 m). Before it was installed, a time capsule filled with the signatures of 762,000 students was welded inside.
The final placement was a bit tricky. The Arch's legs had expanded slightly due to the sun's heat, making the gap at the top smaller. Workers had to spray water on the south leg to cool it down and make it shrink a little. The keystone was then carefully lowered into place, completing the Arch.
The Gateway Arch's visitor center opened on June 10, 1967. The special tram system inside the Arch started taking visitors to the top on July 24, 1967. The Arch was officially dedicated by Vice President Hubert Humphrey on May 25, 1968.
After Construction: A New Era for St. Louis
Even though the Arch project didn't create as many jobs as first hoped, it inspired many other improvements along the riverfront. New buildings, a sports stadium, and hotels were built. The Arch became a symbol of hope and progress for the city.
In 1976, the memorial area was fully completed. A statue of Thomas Jefferson was unveiled, and the Museum of Westward Expansion opened. The curving staircases leading from the Arch down to the river were also finished.
What Makes the Arch Special?
Physical Features of the Arch
The Gateway Arch is 630 feet (192 m) tall and 630 feet (192 m) wide at its base. It is the tallest memorial in the United States. It's also the tallest stainless steel monument in the entire world!
Each leg of the Arch is shaped like an equilateral triangle. These triangles are 54 feet (16 m) wide at the bottom and get narrower, to 17 feet (5.2 m) wide, at the very top. The Arch's walls are made of a strong outer skin of stainless steel. Inside, there are two layers of carbon steel with reinforced concrete in between. The Arch is hollow, which allows for the unique tram system that carries visitors to the top.
The Arch is built to be very strong. Its legs are deeply set into 25,980 short tons (23,570 t) of concrete and bedrock. It can withstand earthquakes and strong winds up to 150 miles per hour (240 km/h), swaying up to 18 inches (46 cm) in either direction. The entire structure weighs 42,878 short tons (38,898 t). The stainless steel panels that cover the outside of the Arch weigh 886 short tons (804 t), making it the largest amount of stainless steel ever used in one project.
The Arch's Mathematical Shape
The special shape of the Gateway Arch comes from a mathematical curve called a catenary. Imagine a chain hanging freely between two points; the curve it forms is a catenary. An inverted catenary arch, like the Gateway Arch, is incredibly strong because it handles weight by pushing straight down into its foundations. This makes it very stable.
The Gateway Arch is actually a "weighted catenary." This means its legs are wider at the bottom and taper towards the top. Eero Saarinen chose this specific shape because it looked less pointy and more graceful than a regular catenary curve.
Lighting Up the Night
The idea to light up the Arch at night came about in 1966. However, it wasn't until November 2001 that the Arch was regularly bathed in white light. A system of 44 floodlights, hidden just below ground, makes the Arch glow from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Sometimes, the Arch is lit up in special colors for important causes. For example, in October 2004, it was illuminated in pink to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This showed how the Arch could be a "beacon" for important messages.
Visiting the Gateway Arch
The Visitor Center and Museum
The Arch's visitor center is located underground, right between its legs. It's a large space, about 70,000-square-foot (6,500 m2). Although the visitor center started construction with the Arch, it wasn't fully finished until 1976 due to funding. However, it opened with some exhibits in 1967.
The center has offices, waiting areas for the trams, and its main attractions. These include the Museum of Westward Expansion and two theaters that show films about the Arch. The museum has hundreds of exhibits about America's westward journey in the 1800s.
The visitor center and museum underwent a big renovation and expansion that finished in July 2018. This added new interactive galleries, video walls, and a cafe.
Reaching the Observation Deck
Near the very top of the Arch, visitors step out of the tram and walk up a small slope to the observation area. This deck is over 65 feet (20 m) long and 7 feet (2.1 m) wide. It can hold about 160 people at once. Through 16 windows on each side, you can see amazing views up to 30 miles (48 km) away!
How to Get to the Top
There are a few ways to get up the Arch. There are two sets of emergency stairs, each with 1,076 steps. There's also a 12-passenger elevator that goes partway up. But the most popular way is the unique tram system in each leg.
Each tram is like a chain of eight small, round cars, each with five seats and glass doors. These cars rotate like Ferris-wheel cars as they travel up and down the Arch on rails. This special design keeps the floor of the car level as it moves along the curved Arch.
A trip to the top takes about four minutes, and coming down takes three minutes. The tram in the north leg started running in June 1967. The south tram was finished by March 1968. Since then, the trams have carried millions of passengers to the top of the Arch.
.jpg)
Keeping Visitors Safe: Tram Incidents
Sometimes, there have been minor incidents with the trams. For example, in July 1970, a family was briefly stuck in a tram after the monument closed. In July 2007, a broken cable caused the south tram to shut down for repairs, and about 200 tourists were safely brought down.
In February 2011, a worker was injured while fixing the south tram's electrical system. In March 2011, about a hundred visitors were briefly stranded in the observation area when a tram door wouldn't close. In June 2011, the north tram stalled due to a power outage. In all these cases, park staff worked quickly to ensure everyone's safety, and most visitors were unharmed.
Stunts and Safety Rules
The Gateway Arch is a national monument, and certain activities are strictly forbidden for safety reasons. For example, the Federal Aviation Administration warns that pilots who fly planes through the Arch will face penalties. Despite this, some pilots have tried it.
In 1973, a hot air balloon accidentally hit the Arch during a race but recovered safely. Since 1976, authorized skydiving teams have been allowed to jump onto the Arch grounds as part of special events, flying their parachutes through the legs of the Arch.
However, unauthorized stunts are dangerous and against the rules. In November 1980, an unauthorized parachutist attempted a jump from the Arch and tragically fell. In September 1992, an individual climbed to the top of the Arch using suction cups and then parachuted back down. This was an unauthorized and dangerous act, and the person faced consequences for breaking park rules. These incidents highlight why such stunts are forbidden.
Keeping the Arch Secure
After certain events in the United States, security at the Gateway Arch was increased. Park officials were trained to notice unusual activity, and electronic detection devices were installed. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, security checkpoints were moved to the visitor center entrance. Here, visitors are screened with magnetometers and x-ray equipment to ensure everyone's safety.
The Arch is also protected by restricted airspace, especially during big events like Fourth of July celebrations. Movable barriers and concrete posts have been installed to prevent attacks and keep the monument safe. Park officials continuously work with other government agencies to improve security procedures.
The Arch's Meaning and Place in Culture
The Gateway Arch was built to symbolize the westward expansion of the United States. It represents the "pioneer spirit" of those who explored the West and inspires people to strive for new goals. The Arch has become the most famous image of St. Louis, appearing everywhere in the city's culture. Many businesses use "Gateway" or "Arch" in their names, and local sports teams are even called "Archers."
The Arch is also a symbol for the entire state of Missouri. In 2002, a special Missouri coin design featured the Arch in the background, showing explorers on the Missouri River. This helped make the Arch even more recognized worldwide.
Architectural critics have praised the Arch for its simple, timeless beauty and its modern, scientific design. It's seen as a symbol of "boundless American optimism." The Arch changes its look depending on the weather—it can be shiny in the sun or soft in the mist. It truly inspires wonder in those who see it.
While some have debated if St. Louis is truly the "Gateway to the West," the Arch stands as a powerful reminder of this historical role. Recent renovations to the visitor center have also broadened the Arch's story. They now include the impact of westward expansion on First Americans and the struggles of workers during the civil rights movement.
The Arch's futuristic style also connects it to the automobile age and modern infrastructure. It even inspired the name and logo for the future Lunar Gateway, which will serve as a gateway to the Moon and Mars.
Awards and Special Recognitions
The Gateway Arch has received many awards for its design and engineering. In 1966, it won a Special Award for Excellence for being an "outstanding achievement in technology and aesthetics." The American Society of Civil Engineers gave it the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award in 1967.
The Arch has also been ranked among the most-visited attractions in the world. In 1990, it received the American Institute of Architects' Twenty-Five Year Award for its "enduring significance." It was called "a symbolic bridge between East and West, past and future, engineering and art." In 2007, the Arch was ranked fourteenth on the AIA's list of "America's Favorite Architecture."
Caring for the Arch
Like any large structure, the Gateway Arch needs regular care. Sometimes, people have unfortunately etched their names or drawn on the Arch. In 1968, $10,000 was spent to repair damage from such acts.
In 2010, some signs of corrosion (rusting) were found on the stainless steel surface, especially in the upper parts. This might be due to water getting into tiny gaps in the welds. Maintenance workers use special tools to manage this issue. Experts have studied the Arch to find the best long-term solutions for its care.
In 2014, samples were taken from the Arch's surface to figure out the best way to clean it. This cleaning project is expected to cost about $340,000. Engineers believe the Arch is very strong and could stand for a very long time.
Connecting the City: The Brickline Greenway
The Brickline Greenway Project is an exciting plan to connect different parts of St. Louis. This big partnership aims to link Forest Park and Washington University in St. Louis to the Gateway Arch grounds. It will create a beautiful pathway for people to walk, bike, and explore the city. This project was known as the Chouteau Greenway until March 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Arco Gateway para niños
