Gateway Arch: St. Louis, Missouri
MEMORIES:
Nuke67 remembers...My birth place, and where I live now, well I live right across the river from St.Louis in Illinois, pretty ... More »
Posted on 12/30/07
PHOTOS:
It’s hard to miss the Gateway Arch, the stainless steel monument that soars into the sky along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. It is an awe-inspiring marvel of modern engineering: a graceful catenary arch that commemorates the spirit of western expansion and has become the definitive icon for the city of St. Louis.
Located within the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the design of the monument was a result of a contest to create a fitting memorial to commemorate the expansion to the west, as well as the first city government to the west of the Mississippi River. The winner of the contest, Eero Saaranen, based his design on an inverted catenary arch, or more simply, the shape that a chain takes when it is suspended from two equal point. The Arch opened to the public on October 15th, 1965 and has enthralled visitors and photographers alike, ever since.
For those that haven’t visited, the first question might be, “Can you go up inside?” Well, sure you can. Rather than have visitors travel up over a thousand stairs though, it was determined that an elevator would be more appropriate. Problem was, current elevator technology and arches weren’t an ideal match. Enter a man named Richard Bowser, who invented something that was sort of a cross between an elevator and a Ferris wheel. This allowed the cars to travel along the arch, yet always remain level.
Passengers can enter from either side of the arch and board an egg shaped car that holds up to five people. Eight cars are joined together to create a train holding 40 people. During the four mile-per-hour journey, it takes about four minutes to get to the top and another three to get back down. During your ride, you can view the interior of the arch through small windows in the cars, which unfortunately don’t exactly accommodate tall people all too well.
While the ride may be a bit cramped, it is worth suffering for a few minutes to get to the top, for what lies beyond is an absolutely breathtaking view of the surrounding area. On a clear day, you can see about 30 miles in any direction, including across the Mississippi and into Illinois. If you have a fear of heights, you might want to stay below, but for the adventurous traveler, you are afforded a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity that shouldn’t be missed. And, no need to worry about high winds or earthquakes. The Arch was designed to sway up to 18 inches in up to 150-mile an hour winds and its supports travel sixty feet deep into the earth ensuring that all is safe.
Through the course of history, the Gateway Arch has attracted its share of thrill seekers, from people trying to climb it with suction cups, to those with a desire to fly under it, and even a few that have tried, some unsuccessfully, to parachute from the top. You should probably leave your daredevil costume at home, though, and simply enjoy it for what it is: a testament to man’s ingenuity and sense of exploration. And be sure to allow time to visit the wonderful Museum of Western Expansion at the base of the arch, filled with numerous artifacts from a time when adventure was the name of the game.
The St. Louis Arch is one of the grand memorials to be witnessed in this country, a testimony to the brave men that set out to find the Pacific Ocean amidst the dangers and unforeseen obstacles. It represents a sense of adventure that truly encapsulates the American Dream and the Gateway Arch stands as a stark reminder, with its stainless steel beauty soaring effortlessly to the skies above, that anything is possible if you can only dream of it first. It is a landmark that can’t help but leave a lasting impression on those who visit.
