217. St. Louis Arch
We take it for granted that one of the most remarkable monuments on the planet is here, in a medium-sized city in the American Midwest. In the 1930s, a St. Louis lawyer, Luther Ely Smith, wanted to remake the Mississippi riverfront as a memorial to the country’s western territorial expansion. According to his daughter, when locals objected to using public funds, saying the city needed practical things, Smith would respond that “spiritual things” were equally important.
Eero Saarinen wanted an “absolutely simple shape” for the monument. He decided against a classic arch, opting for a catenary curve, the shape of a hanging chain. The arch’s cross-section is an equilateral triangle: 54 feet wide at the base, a slender 17 feet at the top. The tapering is not only elegant, it allows for a height of 630 feet—75 feet taller than the Washington Monument.
It’s an engineering marvel. If the bases were off by a few centimeters, the two legs wouldn’t meet at the top. When the final, 8-foot-long stainless-steel “keystone” was hoisted into place, the space was only 30 inches wide, and massive hydraulic presses pushed both legs apart to accept the joining piece.
Architectural competitions rarely yield something truly daring and important.[1] Eero Saarinen won against 171 other competitors, including his father, Eliel. The telegram naming finalists was mistakenly sent to Eliel. The family celebrated with champagne until, two hours later, an official called to correct the mistake. Eliel broke out a second bottle to toast his son.
Links:
Arch - Roger Kaza, The Engines of Our Ingenuity, University of Houston
Monumental protest: Activist Percy Green's battle for fair hiring at the Arch - Mary Delach Leonard, St. Louis NPR, October 28, 2015
At Gateway Arch National Park, Saarinen’s Vision Is Made Complete - Michael J. Lewis, The Wall Street Journal, May 21, 2025 (unlocked paywall)
Gateway Arch Architecture - National Park Service
How St. Louis became known as 'Mound City' despite settlers razing those monuments - Emily Woodbury, St. Louis NPR, June 27, 2024
This post is part of The American 250, a series featuring 250 objects made by Americans, located in America, in honor of the country's 250th anniversary. 250 words on 250 works, from January 1 to December 31, 2026.
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[1] But sometimes they do: witness the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
