St. Louis Skyline Live Cam

The Gateway Arch, also known as the Gateway to the West, is a renowned monument located in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. It is an iconic symbol of the city and a prominent landmark in the United States. Here is a brief overview of the history of the Gateway Arch:

Concept and Design: The idea for a monument to commemorate Thomas Jefferson and St. Louis' role in westward expansion dates back to the early 1930s. In 1933, civic leader Luther Ely Smith proposed the idea during a meeting of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Association. The association sought to revitalize the St. Louis riverfront area.

Architectural Competition: In 1947, the National Park Service announced an architectural competition to design a monument for the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. The competition drew international attention, and over 170 entries were submitted. The design by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and structural engineer Hannskarl Bandel was selected as the winning entry in 1948.

Construction: Construction of the Gateway Arch began in February 1963. The arch's design consists of a stainless steel exterior covering a steel framework, with a height of 630 feet (192 meters) and a width of 630 feet (192 meters) at the base. The construction required careful planning and engineering expertise to erect the arch's unique curved shape.