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History of the Arch Video

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Arch Video! 1 minute tour

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25 Arch Facts

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1.) In 1935, the St. Louis Riverfront was chosen for a national monument in honor of the westward expansion of the United States. Buildings were cleared on 40 city blocks to begin the memorial; however the progression ceased due to World War I.

2.) The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Association held an architectural competition in 1947 for the design of the memorial.

3.) Finland born architect Eero Saarinen won the contest with his design of a catenary curved arch. A catenary curve hangs freely from two fixed points and is flexible but it will not stretch.

4.) Construction on the arch began on February 12, 1963 and the completion date was October 28, 1965.

5.) The arch stands 630 feet tall and is 630 feet wide at the base, which makes it the tallest man-made monument in the United States.

6.) The arch is made out of 886 tons of stainless steel.

7.) The weight of the concrete in the arch totals 38,107 tons.

8.) The arch has 142 triangular sections positioned on top of one another and welded on the inside and outside.

9.) The arch is 63 stories tall and each story is 10 feet.

10.) Each leg is 54 feet long at the bottom and the sections taper to 17 feet at the very top.

11.) To place the last four-foot piece at the top of the arch, the legs were jacked apart with more than 500 tons of pressure.

12.) Under normal weather conditions, the arch will not sway. The wind has to blow 50 miles per hour for the top of the arch to move 1 1/2 inches from the center. The design of the arch allows for an 18 inch sway and to withstand an earthquake.

13.) There are six 1/2 by 20 inch lightning rods plus an aircraft light on the top of the arch.

14.) The cost to build the arch totaled 13 million dollars.

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ExploreDecor 19 Pages, 51% Author for 7 years

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25 Interesting Facts About the St. Louis Gateway Arch

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1.) In 1935, the St. Louis Riverfront was chosen for a national monument in honor of the westward expansion of the United States. Buildings were cleared on 40 city blocks to begin the memorial; however the progression ceased due to World War I. 2.)

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The Gateway Arch is an experience enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. Recent improvements have expanded access to even more of our attractions. With the exception of the Tram Ride to the Top of the Gateway Arch, the second and third decks of the riverboats, and the upper floors of the Old Courthouse, most facilities at the Gateway Arch are wheelchair accessible. See below for specific directions to our various attractions.

Tram Ride to the Top: The Tram Ride to the Top of the Gateway Arch is not fully accessible for guests with mobility impairments, as no wheelchairs, scooters or strollers are permitted on the Observation Deck. To reach the top and return, you must be able to manage at least 96 steps, divided into six flights, and you may need to stand for 30-60 minutes. No seating or restrooms are located at the top of the Arch.

Gateway Arch National Park Grounds: Motor vehicles are prohibited but electric-powered mobility assistance devices (e.g. electric scooters, wheelchairs, and Segways) for transporting persons with disabilities are permitted on park roadways and walkways. See here for more information.

Guests may borrow a wheelchair by leaving a valid form of identification with a National Park Service ranger at the Information Desk inside the Gateway Arch or Old Courthouse.

Hearing-impaired visitors may request assisted listening and captioning devices for the documentary movie from the Information Desk inside the Gateway Arch.

Sight-impaired visitors may request audio description devices for the documentary movie from the Information Desk inside the Gateway Arch.

Service animals ( as defined by the US Department of Justice) are permitted at the Gateway Arch and the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch.

Strollers are permitted everywhere except in the Arch trams and the Observation Deck at the top of the Gateway Arch. You may park strollers at the tram ride loading zones located below the Gateway Arch before taking your Tram Ride to the Top. Many families park strollers there, so you may want to label yours with your name and address.

Visiting the Riverboats from the Arch grounds: New, sloping pathways now lead from the Arch grounds down to the riverfront. If driving by car, parking is available on the levee at 50 South Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63102.

Visiting the Arch from the Riverboats: Enter the Arch grounds from the riverfront via the sloping pathways located to the north and south of the Grand Staircase. Another park entrance is available at the north end of the park near the Eads Bridge.

Visiting the Arch from downtown St. Louis:Enter the park via the Walnut Street Bridge, located at Memorial Drive and Walnut near the Old Cathedral (209 Walnut Street, St. Louis, MO 63102) or through the north end of the park, through Laclede's Landing using either the 1 st or 2 nd Street entrances. See our Pedestrian Map for details.
**NOTE ABOUT RIVERFRONT ACCESS: Due the slope of the levee, the paved pathways on the cobblestones leading to the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch are not ADA compliant.
For additional information or assistance, please email info@gatewayarch.com or contact our Call Center at 877-982-1410.

To learn more about accessibility at the Arch grounds, visit the Gateway Arch National Park website.

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The Gateway Arch is an experience enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. Recent improvements have expanded access to even more of our attractions. With the exception of the Tram Ride to the Top of the Gateway Arch, the second and third decks of the riverboats, and the upper floors of the Old Courthouse, most facilities at the Gateway Arch are wheelchair accessible.

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Arch Facts!