The History of the St. Louis Arch

I know you've seen it--possibly so many times that it doesn't make you look twice.

But if you can believe it, there was a time when St. Louis did not have an Arch.

First, we have to go wayyyyy back....

In 1934, business leaders decided that St. Louis needed a memorial to honor Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase. They raised money and tore down 40 blocks of riverfront. Here's a before and after shot of the St. Louis riverfront.

Before-1932

After-1942

Two things happened to slow it down--the Great Depression and World War II. After these ended (1945), it was time to choose something to put on the riverfront.

A design by architect Eero Saarinen was chosen in 1947. They didn't start working on it until 1954! (Well, they needed 5 million dollars first.)

Here he is with a scale model of the Arch.

How do you put up an arch? From the bottom up, of course!

The final piece of the Arch was put in on October 28, 1965. It is STILL the tallest memorial in the United States.