Gateway National Park’s arch is America’s tallest monument. It reaches a height of 630 feet (63 stories high) above the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri. It is an engineering marvel. The St. Louis landmark had its beginning in 1933, when local business leaders wanted to enhance the city’s waterfront, which had suffered an economic downturn and dilapidation. The group’s vision was to revise the waterfront area and place a landmark there which would become known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. It would celebrate President Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. In 1935, an association, with the same name, was created to work on that vision. A political fiasco took place during the ensuing years. It caused a tearing down of a 40‐block area of the city, which contained 290 businesses. In 1940, St. Louis rivaled New York City; it was then the 8th largest city in the United States. The city of St. Louis covers a 62 square mile area. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of July 2016, it ranks 61st. Crime, poverty, racial tensions and an inability to infuse new business have been some of the criticisms for its drop in population and stature. However, the erection of the monument‐ arch has made it a national landmark. The monument‐arch became a reality when Eero Saarinen won a nationwide competition from 172 submissions in 1947, but delays took place. On June 23, 1959, a ground‐breaking ceremony took place, however construction didn’t begin until February 1963. Designer Saarinen would never see his arch completed. He died of a brain tumor in 1961. On October 28, 1965, the stainless‐steel arch was completed. In another two years, the north tram system opened to take visitors to the top. The south tram to the top opened a year later. The museum at the arch includes Arch history, Westward Expansion and the Old Courthouse which was the site of the cases involving the Dred Scott decision regarding slavery. In February 2018, the monument‐arch officially became “Gateway Arch National Park.” A multimillion dollar revitalization is underway. A new museum is opening to further share America’s expansion after Thomas Jefferson and many other historical events. According to the National Park Service, the top of the arch can hold 160 people, with 16 viewing windows. There are 1076 steps used only by maintenance people. The cost of the arch was $13 million (over $100 million today). From the top, on a clear day one can see up to 30 miles in all directions. The Gateway Arch National Park is approximately 100 acres. It includes the Old Courthouse, Luther Ely Smith Square (Father of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial) and the Arch. The pictures below in this photo program were taken in 2001. Sources: https://theculturetrip.com/north‐america/usa/missouri/articles/a‐brief‐history‐of‐the‐gateway‐arch‐in‐st‐louis/, https://www.uh.edu/engines/epi2645.htm, https://www.gatewayarch.com/, https://www.nps.gov/jeff/index.htm, https://explorestlouis.com/partner/gateway‐arch/, https://www.history.com/this‐day‐in‐history/gateway‐arch‐completed, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/story‐st‐louis‐gateway‐arch‐180956624/, and http://fox2now.com/2018/02/23/st‐louis‐landmark‐ officially‐gets‐new‐name‐gateway‐arch‐national‐park/. VIEWS FROM THE TOP acuri.net John R. Vincenti St. Louis, Missouri Gateway Arch National Park .