The Gateway Arch legs are exits only. Please allow at least 30 minutes to go through security. Tickets sell out early and often, advance reservations are strongly recommended. In between, the Gateway Arch rises high, a bold monument to the pioneering spirit. Today, the Gateway Arch celebrates the diverse people who shaped the region and the country. The artist, architect Eero Saarinen, designed the monument that honors them all. The monument we know today began in , when President Franklin D.
Roosevelt designated property along the St. While the land was cleared for construction, the City of St. Completed in , the Gateway Arch stands as a symbol of national identity and an iconic example of mid-century modern design. Anchoring the west end of the Park, the Old Courthouse is a prime example of mid th century federal architecture.
Built in , the Courthouse served as the site of a number of landmark civil rights cases, including the Dred Scott decision. In the s, the enslaved Scott was taken to free territory in Illinois and Wisconsin before being brought back to Missouri. Louis Courthouse. In , the U. Supreme Court decided against Scott and his wife Harriet, ruling that African-Americans were not citizens and had no right to sue in court.
Dissent over the decision helped to speed the start of the U. Civil War four years later. Discover more of the fascinating history and engineering behind the Gateway Arch at the official National Park Service page.
Here are just a few samples:. The Gateway Arch is feet high, making it the tallest monument in the United States. It is as wide as it is tall. Construction began in and concluded October 28, with the installation of the final section. Today, up to 6, visitors per day take the 4-minute Tram Ride to the Top. The foundations extend 60 feet into the ground, and in its entirety, the Arch weighs 43, tons, including tons of stainless steel.
