Missouri
ESTABLISHED 2018
Soaring high above a Civil Rights landmark on the banks of the Mississippi River, the elegant, silver-steel Gateway Arch is a gleaming memorial to the westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century.
The graceful silver arch is a symbol of St. Louis and the centerpiece of one of the few urban national parks. It was conceived in the 1930s as a tribute to President Thomas Jefferson, whose purchase of the Louisiana territory beyond the Mississippi River in 1803 opened up the westward movement of explorers and pioneers.
The magnificent arch, designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen, was built in 1963–65. On a bright day, when its tapered form shimmers in the sunlight and reflects in the waters of this mighty river, it is a perfect tribute to a visionary president.
Like a silver rainbow, the arch towers above another venerable landmark, the Old Courthouse. Two benchmark Civil Rights cases were heard in this historic 1828 building: the infamous Dred Scott Case, and, in 1872, Virginia Minor’s challenge of the state’s male-only voting laws. Both cases went to the US Supreme Court, which ruled against the plaintiffs.
630
In ft (192 m), the height of the arch.
630
Width at the base in ft (192 m).
43,000
The weight in tons (39,000 metric tons).
60
Depth in ft (18 m) of the foundations.
Look West
For a thrilling way to experience the arch, squeeze into a capsule-like tram car and ride up inside the dark, narrow legs to the top. Here, small windows on either side afford you incredible views over the Mississippi, the city, and beyond. From this lofty vantage point, you’ll gaze out at the great westward expanse that was Jefferson’s legacy to his country.
FOCUS ON
The Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott and his family were born into slavery, but they were taken into free territories, where they lived for many years. Under the “once-free, always-free” doctrine, they sued for freedom in 1846. The landmark case dragged on 11 years, making it to the Supreme Court. Its ruling against the Scotts provoked widespread anger and helped fuel the start of the Civil War.
The massive Gateway Arch, until 2018 known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, is mirrored in the reflection pool
The striking cast-iron dome on St. Louis’s Old Courthouse was modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
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