proud symbol of St.Louis, Missouri. This tallest arch in the world commemorate the national
expansion of United States to west. It stand as a dedication to Thomas Jefferson for his Louisiana
purchase, his aides Livingston and Monroe, the great explorers, Lewis and Clark, and hardy hunters,
trappers, pioneers and frontiersmen who contributed to the territorial expansion and development of United States.
This clad in stainless steel is built in the form of catenary arch. The catenary arch is the most stable of
all arches since the thrust passes down through the legs and is absorbed in the foundations, whereas
in other arches, the pressure tends to force the legs apart .Catenary is a curve of chain or cable which
assumes under its own weight when supported only on both ends and acted upon by a uniform
gravitational force and have equilibrium at every point.
1948 competition for designing a monument for Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. German-
American structural engineer Hannskarl Bandel modified the arch design by replacing some of the
constant-sized links with variable links, thus changing the weight, distribution of the weight, and the
shape and gave the arch a soaring effect which the architect envisioned.
The Gateway arch is the centerpiece of attraction among Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
park. This towering monument become an internationally famous symbol of St. Louis. Construction
of the arch began in February 12, 1963 and completed on October 28, 1965. The north tram was
opened to the public in 1967 while the south tram in 1968.The arch's visitor center was opened in
1967. The arch is 630 ft tall and maintain a distance of 630 ft between its two legs in the ground level.
The cross-sections of the arch's legs are equilateral triangles, narrowing from 54 feet (16 m) per side
at the bases to 17 feet (5.2 m) per side at the top. Each wall consists of a stainless steel skin covering
a sandwich of two carbon-steel walls with reinforced concrete in the middle from ground level to
300 feet (91 m), with carbon steel to the peak. The arch is hollow to accommodate a unique tram
system that takes visitors to an observation deck at the top.
The windows of the observation deck are located around the apex of the arch. There are 16 windows
The underground visitor center for the arch is located directly below the arch, between its legs.
Access to the visitor center is provided through ramps adjacent to each leg of the arch. The Arch
is designed to sway as much as 18 inches, and can withstand an earthquake, however under normal
conditions the Arch does not sway. It takes a 50-mile an hour wind to move the top 1.5 inches each side of center.
at the bases to 17 feet (5.2 m) per side at the top. Each wall consists of a stainless steel skin covering
a sandwich of two carbon-steel walls with reinforced concrete in the middle from ground level to
300 feet (91 m), with carbon steel to the peak. The arch is hollow to accommodate a unique tram
system that takes visitors to an observation deck at the top.
The windows of the observation deck are located around the apex of the arch. There are 16 windows
of size6 x 27" on each side of the observation deck. Over 500 tons of pressure was used to jack the
legs of the Arch apart for the last four-foot piece to be inserted at the top. A larger window would
not withstand that pressure which is the main reason for smaller windows on the observation desk.
legs of the Arch apart for the last four-foot piece to be inserted at the top. A larger window would
not withstand that pressure which is the main reason for smaller windows on the observation desk.
The underground visitor center for the arch is located directly below the arch, between its legs.
Access to the visitor center is provided through ramps adjacent to each leg of the arch. The Arch
is designed to sway as much as 18 inches, and can withstand an earthquake, however under normal
conditions the Arch does not sway. It takes a 50-mile an hour wind to move the top 1.5 inches each side of center.
The arch can be accessed by 1076 emergency steps, an elevator and two trams.Each tram is a chain of
eight egg-shaped, five-seat compartments with a total capacity of 40 passengers at a time. Both trams
together took 80 passengers at a time to the top of the arch at every 10 minutes. The trip to top took
about 4 minutes while bottom trip only took 3 minutes. The cars swing like Ferris-wheel cars(like
that of giant wheel ) as they ascend and descend the arch.
Approximate time to complete the trip is around 45 minutes. On a clear day the view at the top can
extend up to thirty miles in either direction, however, St. Louis can be a very hazy city which reduces
visibility at the top. On cool, damp mornings a dense fog can create zero visibility at the top. The
viewing area at the top can hold up to 160 people.
The windows offer views 48 km to the east across the Mississippi River and southern Illinois with
its prominent Mississippian culture mounds at Cahokia Mounds, and to the west over the city of
St. Louis and St. Louis County beyond. The Busch Stadium III completed in 2006 and home of
MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals can be seen in the south west through the windows.
its prominent Mississippian culture mounds at Cahokia Mounds, and to the west over the city of
St. Louis and St. Louis County beyond. The Busch Stadium III completed in 2006 and home of
MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals can be seen in the south west through the windows.
The Mississippi River flows directly below the east windows of the Arch at a normal top water speed
of 3 miles an hour at a depth of about 12-15 feet. The Missouri River meets the Mississippi about 15
miles to the north of the Arch.The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers combine to form the longest river
system in the USA and North America. It is also the fourth longest river in the world
A museum and two theatres are seen at the base of the arch. Every 45 minutes Tucker Theater shows
a 28 minute film called" Monument to the dream" about the construction and meaning of the
Gateway Arch . Odyssey theater with ULTRA 70 wide screen projection system with a four-story-
high screen and THX sound shows a film chronicling the expedition by Lewis and Clark to
document the western territories of the United States after the purchase of Louisiana territory by United States.
a 28 minute film called" Monument to the dream" about the construction and meaning of the
Gateway Arch . Odyssey theater with ULTRA 70 wide screen projection system with a four-story-
high screen and THX sound shows a film chronicling the expedition by Lewis and Clark to
document the western territories of the United States after the purchase of Louisiana territory by United States.
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition of the Louisiana territory (828,000 square miles) by
the United States from France in 1803. Louisiana Territory stretched from the Mississippi River in
the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west and from the Gulf of Mexico in the south to the
Canadian border in the north. Part or all of 15 states were eventually created from the land deal,
which is considered one of the most important achievements of Thomas Jefferson’s presidency.
Commissioned by Thomas Jefferson, Lewis and Clark expedition team consist of a select group of
U.S. Army volunteers under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant
William Clark.The Lewis and Clark Expedition is illustrated in video, art work and excerpts from
Lewis' diary of that journey of exploration to the Pacific Ocean. It is a story of many individuals and
groups, military men and scientists, a president, slaves, boatmen and American Indians. Known as
the Corps of Discovery, they traveled over 3700 miles between May of 1804 and September of 1806.
Their journey followed the courses of the Missouri and Columbia rivers and crossing of the Rocky
and Bitteroot Mountains and seeing the Pacific ocean.
U.S. Army volunteers under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant
William Clark.The Lewis and Clark Expedition is illustrated in video, art work and excerpts from
Lewis' diary of that journey of exploration to the Pacific Ocean. It is a story of many individuals and
groups, military men and scientists, a president, slaves, boatmen and American Indians. Known as
the Corps of Discovery, they traveled over 3700 miles between May of 1804 and September of 1806.
Their journey followed the courses of the Missouri and Columbia rivers and crossing of the Rocky
and Bitteroot Mountains and seeing the Pacific ocean.
The museum of Westward Expansion located beneath the Gateway Arch unfolds the history of
pioneers who shaped the history of west of United states. It reveals the incredible journey by Lewis
and Clark. It also displays the life of mountain men lived in the 1800s and the history of Native
Americans. The voices of animatronic figures explains the history and bring past to life. The artifacts
exhibited here also include a covered wagon and stage coach, rare Indian peace medals, weapons,
war bonnets and things used by native Indians.
pioneers who shaped the history of west of United states. It reveals the incredible journey by Lewis
and Clark. It also displays the life of mountain men lived in the 1800s and the history of Native
Americans. The voices of animatronic figures explains the history and bring past to life. The artifacts
exhibited here also include a covered wagon and stage coach, rare Indian peace medals, weapons,
war bonnets and things used by native Indians.
A tipi or teepee which is a conical tent, traditionally made of animal skins, and wooden poles used
by the nomadic tribes/band governments of the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies in North America
is displayed in the museum along with some of the rarest artifacts from the day of Lewis and Clark.
It exhibit the history of American Indian tribes who had called these places home for centuries
which was unknown to Euro-Americans before the Lewis- Clark expedition.
which was unknown to Euro-Americans before the Lewis- Clark expedition.
The museum along with the extensive collection of artifacts, also exhibit big as life mounted animals
like Long horn sheer, a grizzly bear standing on a rock , horse and a large buffalo.The indigenous
peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Americas or the early migrants
from Eurasia via Beringia took place at least 13,500 -40,000 years ago. Most were hunter-gatherers
or herders, but some, such as the Mound builders, formed prolific agricultural societies.
The Museum Shop carries a wide selection of books, videos, apparel and educational toys, including
a large selection of products related to St. Louis history, African-American history, and the Dred
Scott case .The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial consists of the Gateway Arch, the Museum
of Westward Expansion, and St. Louis' Old Courthouse.
Scott case .The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial consists of the Gateway Arch, the Museum
of Westward Expansion, and St. Louis' Old Courthouse.
The Old Courthouse situated next to arch was a gathering place for pioneers going west. It was also
the site of several important nineteenth century trials which helped fuel major changes to the
American way of life. This is the place where an enslaved husband and wife, Dred and Harriet Scott,
unsuccessfully and famously sued for his freedom – is a first rate historical treasure which ignited
the American Civil war and later abolition of slavery. The Courthouse is also the site where Virginia
Minor who was an American women's suffrage activist sued for woman’s right to vote in 1872.
the site of several important nineteenth century trials which helped fuel major changes to the
American way of life. This is the place where an enslaved husband and wife, Dred and Harriet Scott,
unsuccessfully and famously sued for his freedom – is a first rate historical treasure which ignited
the American Civil war and later abolition of slavery. The Courthouse is also the site where Virginia
Minor who was an American women's suffrage activist sued for woman’s right to vote in 1872.
The entire Memorial is about 91 acres. This includes the Gateway Arch and grounds (about 62acres) ,
plus another 30 acres or so encompassing the Old Courthouse, Luther Ely Smith Square and a good
bit of the surrounding streets (managed as easements) and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
Trolley tours and carriage tours as well as elegant Cindrella carriage tours can be hired to have a ride
in the down town. Golf cart tours are also available which are dependable on weather condition.
The Arch represents one of the largest optical illusions ever created. While it appears to be much
taller than it is wide, the two distances are exactly the same at 630 feet. St Louis Zoo, Busch stadium,
St Louis Botanical garden and the world heritage site of Cahokia mounds carrying the stories of
Mississippian culture about 1000 years ago is located very close to the gateway arch.
