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The Gateway Arch dedication plaque. Photo by Richie Diesterheft –

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about the Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch is a tall monument that is found in St Louis Missouri United States. Its most prominent feature and what the park is named after is a large stainless steel built in the form of a weighted centenary arch; the world’s tallest arch.

The arch is commonly referred to as the gateway to the west. Furthermore, it has become an internationally recognized symbol of St Louis as well as a popular tourist destination.

Before getting the new name, the park was known as Jefferson national expansion memorial. From 1947 to 1948, a Finnish American architect, Eero Saarinen, inspired the design of a 630-foot stainless steel arch in a design competition.

His design was chosen as a perfect monument to the spirit of the western pioneers. The strong, elegant shape of the arch represents a door to the western part of the country. Construction began on February 12 1963 and was completed on October 28 1965 at an overall cost of 13 million.

Find out more about this Park in the top 10 astonishing facts below. 

1. A family affair: father and son entered the competition to design the Gateway Arch

On September 1, 1947 submissions for the first stage were received by the jury. These submissions were labelled by numbers only while the names of the designers were kept anonymous.

It took the jury four days to deliberate. They narrowed down the 172 submissions. This list included Saarinen’s father Eliel. The next list had five finalists who were announced on September 27.

Eero Saarinen’s design (#144) was among the finalists. Comments from the jury were “relevant, beautiful, perhaps inspired would be the right word”.

The secretary who sent out the telegrams informing finalists of their advancement mistakenly sent one to Eliel rather than Eero.

The family celebrated with champagne, and two hours later, a competition representative called to correct the mistake. Eliel “‘broke out a second bottle of champagne to toast his son.

A local St. Louis architect Harris Armstrong was also one of the finalists.

2. The project was supposed to provide jobs but it did not live up to its expectation in its first years

Gateway Arch was constructed in June 1965. Photo by Kevin William Kelly-

Initially, the project did not provide 5,000 jobs as expected. By June 1964, workers commissioned were less than 100. The project did, however, incite other riverfront restoration efforts, totalling $150 million.

Building projects included a 50,000 seat sports stadium, a 30-story hotel, several office towers, four parking garages, and an apartment complex.

The developers hoped to use the arch as a commercial catalyst, attracting visitors who would use their services. One estimate found that since the 1960s, the arch has used almost $503 million worth of construction.

In June 1976, the memorial was finalized by federal allocations when the statue of Thomas Jefferson was unveiled. Further, the Museum of Westward Expansion was advertised.

3. The Gateway Arch was dedicated on 25, 1968

The arch was dedicated by Humphrey on May 25, 1968. He declared that the arch was a soaring curve in the sky that links the rich heritage of yesterday with the richer future of tomorrow and brings a new purpose.

About 250,000 people were expected to attend, but rain caused the cancellation of the outdoor activities the ceremony had to be transferred to the visitor centre.

 After the dedication, Humphrey crouched beneath an exit as he waited for the rain to subside so he could walk to his vehicle.

4. Millions of people visit the Gateway Arch annually

The arch is a weighted catenary. Its legs are wider than its upper section. Photo by Bev Sykes –

In April 1965, three million tourists were expected to visit the arch after completion; 619,763 tourists visited the top of the arch in its first year open.

On January 15, 1969, a visitor from Nashville Tennessee, became the one-millionth person to reach the observation area. Its ten-millionth visitor ascended to the top on August 24, 1979.

In 1974, the arch was ranked fourth on a list of most-visited man-made attractions.

Its annual average visitors are more than 4 million, from all over the world.  Additionally, the arch was listed as a national historic landmark on June 2, 1987. It is also listed on the national register of historic places.

5. Parts of the Gateway Arch were built separately

Each wall has a stainless steel skin covering two carbon-steel walls. They have been reinforced with concrete in the middle from ground level to 300 feet with carbon steel to the peak.

Interestingly, the arch is hollow to accommodate a unique tram system that takes visitors to an observation deck at the top.

This arch is resistant to earthquakes and is designed to sway up to 18 inches in either direction. It can endure winds of up to 150 miles per hour.

6. There are several activities for visitors at Gateway Arch s that are unique to the park

Observation area on top of the Gateway Arch. Photo by Daniel Schwen –

When you visit the Arch, you can ride in a retro elevator. There is also a tram ride to the top of the gateway arch is the only one of its kind in the world.

Each tram car takes about five passengers. The tram rotates approximately 155 degrees during the four-minute ride to the top. This ensures that the passengers remain still and upright as the arch curves.

Additionally, there is a replica of a 19th-century paddle-wheel riverboat. Riding one of these will give you stunning skyline views.

 Other fun things to do around the Gateway Arch include sightseeing, dinner, brunch and holiday cruises. There is a riverboat cruise available for a unique and relaxing way to experience the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis.

7. The arch was given an award because of its outstanding features

In 1966, the arch received a Special Award for Excellence from the American Institute of steel construction. This was given because of its outstanding achievement in technology and aesthetics.

Then in 1967, the arch received the outstanding civil engineering achievement award 1967 from the American society of civil engineers.

Another award was received in 1990 from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). They recognized it for its enduring significance that has withstood the test of time. The Arch was later declared a symbolic bridge between East and West, past.

8. The Gateway arch was placed under restricted airspace

Aerial shot of the arch by Tech. Sgt. Justin D. Pyle –

Two years after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, a little over $1 million was granted to institute a counterterrorism program. Park officials were trained to note the activity of tourists, and discreet electronic detection devices were installed.

After the September 11 attacks in 2001, security efforts became more prominent. There were security checkpoints installed at the entrance of the visitor centre.

Furthermore, the Arch also became one of several U.S. monuments placed under restricted airspace during the 2002 4^th of July celebrations.

In 2003, 10-foot-long, 32-inch-high, 4,100-pound movable jersey barriers were installed to impede terrorist attacks on the arch.

9. No more deaths; Jumping from the top of the arch is prohibited

On November 22, 1980, at about 8:45 a.m. CST, 33-year-old Kenneth Sawyers from overland Missouri, parachuted onto the top of the arch.

Kenneth planned to release his main parachute and then jump off the arch using his reserve parachute to perform a base jump. Unfortunately, after landing the wind blew him to the side, and he slid down the north leg to his death.

The accident was witnessed by several people, including Sawyers’ wife, who was also a parachutist. She said her husband had prepared for the jump two weeks in advance.

Before the accident, Kenneth had made over 1,600 jumps and was reported by one witness to have landed very well on the top of the arch, but had no footing.

10. There was a resistance when the park was being built from the civil rights movement

Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Daniel Schwen –

Civil rights activists regarded the construction of the arch as a token of racial discrimination.

On July 14, 1964, during the workers’ lunchtime, civil rights protesters Percy Green and Richard Daly (both members of congress of racial equality) climbed 125 feet up the north leg of the arch.

They did this to expose the fact that federal funds were being used to build a national monument. According to them, Black skilled contractors were denied jobs at the monument.

Further, the 1966 lawsuit was an attempt by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance (OFCC) to desegregate building-trade unions nationwide. several technical building unions had little or no African-American representation into the mid-1960s.

During Lyndon Johnson’s presidency (1963-1969), the federal government recognized the need for more integration at all levels of society. They started enforcing equal employment opportunities through federally funded job contracts.