Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch rises 630 feet (192 meters) over downtown St. Louis and consists of welded stainless steel sections that follow a weighted catenary curve. The structure spans the same width at its base as its height and frames the river and surrounding landscape below.

Architect Eero Saarinen won a competition in 1947 to design a monument celebrating westward expansion. Construction began in 1963 and finished three years later when workers joined the two halves of the arch together.

Families and schoolchildren visit the museum below to learn about the stories of people who crossed the Mississippi in covered wagons. The monument has become a place where locals meet to walk along the riverfront and reflect on the settlement of the continent.

A tram carries visitors in small capsules to the observation deck at the top where they can see up to 30 miles (48 kilometers) across Missouri and Illinois. Entry begins underground in the museum where visitors line up for the ride upward.

The steel sections form triangular cross-sections that narrow from 54 feet (16 meters) at ground level to 17 feet (5 meters) at the peak. The entire structure sways up to 9 inches (23 centimeters) sideways during strong winds and remains stable.

Location: St. Louis

Inception: May 25, 1968

Architects: Eero Saarinen

Official opening: October 28, 1965

Architectural style: high-tech architecture

Website: http://gatewayarch.com

GPS coordinates: 38.62461,-90.18497

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:39