The Gateway Arch Celebrates 50th Year of Completion

Celebrating 50 years

 

Construction of the foundation and south leg of the Arch got underway in 1963.

JNEM Archives

This year will mark the 50^th anniversary of the completion of the Gateway Arch. On October 28^th 1965 the final stainless steel section was put into place, completing the 630 foot stainless steel monument to St. Louis' role in the westward expansion of the United States. The Gateway Arch was designed by architect Eero Saarinen as part of a nation-wide competition in 1947-48. After Saarinen's design was chosen, engineers worked for many years to determine how to built it. Construction on the Arch began in 1963, which was built in 33 months for a total cost of less than $15 million dollars. The Gateway Arch foundations are sunk 60 feet into the ground, and it's built to withstand earthquakes and high winds. It will sway up to 1 inch in a 20mph wind, and is capable of swaying 18 inches in 150 mph winds. There are windows on the east and west side of the observation deck at the top which allows visitors a view of downtown St. Louis (west) and Illinois (east). Today, the Arch stands as not only a symbol of our nation's past, but also as a testament to the courage and daring of the designers, engineers and workmen who made it a reality.

 

Construction got underway on the north leg of the Gateway Arch in 1963.

JNEM Archives

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The last section of the Arch was slipped into place completing the monument on October 28, 1965.

JNEM Archives

Exterior construction of the Gateway Arch is complete!