Historic Photos of the Gateway Arch

<p>St. Louis' Gateway Arch rivals the monuments of the world in its simplicity scale elegance and symbolism. The shimmering stainless-steel ribbon forms a catenary arch 630 feet tall and 630 feet across at its base. Its design amazed the civic leaders determined to construct a great monument on the St. Louis riverfront. When it was completed it wowed not just St. Louisans not just Americans but also visitors from around the world.</p><p>Its sleek geometric design and engineering was a creation of the Space Age but the Arch was a monument to America’s frontier heritage. The Gateway Arch commemorated St. Louis’ riverfront as the Gateway to the West.</p><p><em>Historic Photos of the Gateway Arch</em> chronicles the St. Louis riverfront from its days as a fur-trading post to the creation of the Arch. From clearing the site to welding the first section into place to the breathtaking moment of inserting the keystone-the photos tell the story.</p>