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"[35] Saarinen considered the opposition absurd, asserting, "It's just preposterous to think that a basic form, based on a completely natural figure, should have any ideological connection. The monument is actually a U.S. National Park and as noted by the National Park Service, St. Louis was part of the famed Louisiana Purchase which allowed the U.S. to acquire significantly more . The Jefferson memorial idea emerged amid the economic disarray of the Great Depression and promised new jobs. "[164][165] On February 9, 1967, the arch received the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award of 1967 from the American Society of Civil Engineers. L [88] In January 1999, MSNBC arranged a temporary lighting system for the arch so the monument could be used as the background for a visit by Pope John Paul II. Bruce Detmers and other architects expressed the geometric form in blueprints with this equation:[81]. It was about two hours until all the tram riders safely descended, while those in the observation area at the time of the outage had to wait an additional hour before being able to travel back down. ventana canyon golf membership fees; what ships are in port at norfolk naval base? The museum features hands-on, touchable exhibits; large print text cards; front access for wheelchairs; interactive computer simulations; and much more. Tram Ride to the Top:The Tram Ride to the Top of the Gateway Arch is not fully accessible for guests with mobility impairments, as no wheelchairs, scooters or strollers are permitted on the Observation Deck. Just click on the "Get Code" or "Get Deal" Button for best prices at gatewayarch.com. KTVI said it was told the feat was done as an act of homage to Swyers, and "apparently was a combination of a dare, a drunk, and a tribute. The foundations denied the request because their function as private foundations did not include funding national memorials. [142], Two years after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, a little over $1million was granted to institute a counterterrorism program. Instead it is a catenary curvethe curve of a hanging chaina curve in which the forces of thrust are continuously kept within the center of the legs of the arch." The surprising history of the spectacular Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the competing agendas of its supporters, and the mixed results of their ambitious plan Rising to a triumphant height of 630 feet, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a revered monument to America's western expansion. Part of the house has been reconstructed in the basement of the Old Courthouse. Yes, it is true that he was from St. Louis, which started calling itself the Gateway to the West after Eero Saarinen's Gateway Arch was erected, and I'm from Kansas City, where people think of St. Louis not as the Gateway to the West but as the Exit from the East. In 1956, Congress appropriated $2.64million to be used to move the railroad tracks. All Rights Reserved. Welcome to Gateway Arch National Park! "Whatever is shoddy, whatever is ugly, whatever is waste, whatever is false, will be measured and condemned" in comparison to the Gateway Arch. During Lyndon Johnson's presidency, the federal government recognized the need for more integration in all levels of society and started enforcing equal employment opportunity through federally funded job contracts. Hare questioned the feasibility of the design but appreciated the thoughtfulness behind it. [h] A special license plate designed by Arnold Worldwide[157] featured the arch, labeled with ".mw-parser-output span.smallcaps{font-variant:small-caps}.mw-parser-output span.smallcaps-smaller{font-size:85%}Gateway to the West. The Gateway Arch has a special meaning. [140] Federal magistrate judge David D. Noce ruled on January 28, 1993, that Carroll had been involved in a conspiracy and was guilty of both misdemeanor charges; the charges against Weinzetl were dropped by federal prosecutors. According to the boy's mother, the group went up the arch around 9:30p.m. CDT, but when the tram reached the de-boarding area, its doors did not open. [159], Louchheim wrote that although the arch "has a simplicity which should guarantee timeliness", it is entirely modern as well because of the innovative design and its scientific considerations. [65] By noon, the keystone was secured. The Gateway Arch SummerDaily 9:00am-8:00pm* WinterDaily 9:00am-6:00pm* The park grounds are open from 5:00am-11:00pm year round. [16][42] Bi-State would have to raise $1,977,750 for the construction of the tram system. Ultimately, PDM set the ceremony date to October 28. verset coranique pour attirer les femmes. And even if you wanted to climb them, you cannot. [10] [111], Near the top of the Arch, passengers exit the tram compartment and climb a slight grade to enter the observation area. The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Gateway Arch, a 630-foot-tall catenary curvedesigned by Eero Saarinen and clad in stainless steelstands on the west bank of the Mississippi River in. Experience a destination where the stories are as incredible as the views. [the placement of] the five sets of railroad tracks into a shortened tunnel 100 feet west of the trestle, with the tracks being lowered sixteen feet. This Challenge charged us makers to create something iconic -- a place or famous thing on this planet. Featuring six themed exhibit areas, this innovative and interactive museum celebrates Americas pioneering spirit. Our experience is that these CIU members have in the past worked for substandard wages. The Old Courthouse is Temporarily Unavailable. [79], On July 8, 1970, a six-year-old boy, his mother, and two of her friends were trapped in a tram in the arch's south leg after the monument closed. It would also have an overhead clearance of 18 feet (5.5m), lower than the regular requirement of 22 feet (6.7m). [166] The arch was once among Travel + Leisure's unofficial rankings for the most-visited attraction in the world, after Lenin's Tomb, Disney World, Disneyland, and the Eiffel Tower. In 1965, NPS requested that Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel remove the prominent letters "P-D-M" (its initials) from a creeper derrick used for construction, contending that it was promotional and violated federal law with regards to advertising on national monuments. In June 1980, the National Park Service declined a request by television producers to have a performer jump from the arch; a similar appeal by stuntman Dan Koko was also turned away in February 1986. Senior discount available for cruise tickets only. The Gateway Arch seen on Dec. 11, 2014 in St. Louis. [15] When Ickes declared that the railway must be removed before he would allocate funds for the memorial,[22] President of the St. Louis Board of Public Service Baxter Brown suggested that "a new tunnel conceal the relocated tracks and re-grading of the site to elevate it over the tunnel. A month later the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of the Budget endorsed the bill, and both houses of Congress unanimously passed the bill. Building projects included a 50,000-seat sports stadium, a 30-story hotel, several office towers, four parking garages, and an apartment complex. [16] In January 1945, the JNEMA officially announced a two-stage design competition that would cost $225,000 to organize. Foolish mortals don't have to wait any longer to get a glimpse at Disney's Haunted Mansion reboot. [151], The Gateway Arch packs a significant symbolic wallop just by standing there. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, MO), Oct 25, 2015. Were in search of visitor photos of the Gateway Arch from the past 50 years and beyond. Children under the age of 10 may not ride unaccompanied. [22], Peters and other opponents asked Roosevelt to rescind Executive Order 7253 and to redirect the money to the American Red Cross. [79] The structure weighs 42,878 short tons (38,898t), of which concrete composes 25,980 short tons (23,570t); structural steel interior, 2,157 short tons (1,957t); and the 6.3mm thick grade 304 stainless steel panels that cover the exterior of the arch, 886 short tons (804t). [107], The underground visitor center for the arch was designed as part of the National Park Service's Mission 66 program. They sanctioned the proposal, and the nonprofit Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Association (JNEMApronounced "Jenny May")[16] was formed. Fred Severud made calculations for the arch's structure.[40]. NPS director Conrad Wirth enjoined Saarinen to make small modifications to the design. This option will not . [citation needed], There are three modes of transportation up the arch: two sets of 1,076-step emergency stairs (one per leg),[114] a 12-passenger elevator to the 372-foot (113m) height,[18] and a tram in each leg. Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of an inverted, weighted catenary arch, it is the world's tallest arch, the tallest monument in the Western Hemisphere, and Missouri's tallest accessible building. Gateway Arch National Park is located in the heart of downtown St. Louis on the Mississippi River. Expires: Feb 8, 2023. [10], On July 21, 2007, a broken cable forced the south tram to be shut down, leaving only the north tram in service until repairs were completed in March 2008. Check out our gateway arch gifts selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Although the proposal aimed for only authorization, the bill incurred opposition because people suspected that JNEMA would later seek appropriation. Find the most pedestrian-friendly routes. The catenary arch is the stablest of all arches since the thrust passes through the legs and is absorbed in the foundations, instead of forcing the legs apart. The Gateway Arch is known world-wide as the symbol of the city of St. Louis. [103] On August 26, the finalists made their cases to an eight-member jury,[104][105] and on September 21,[106] the winner was revealedMichael Van Valkenburgh Associates. Krug planned to meet with Smith and JNEM but canceled the meeting and resigned on November 11. [30] The competition comprised two stagesthe first to narrow down the designers to five and the second to single out one architect and his design. [10] Access to the visitor center is provided through ramps adjacent to each leg of the arch. *, Visiting the Arch from downtown St. Louis: All walking paths onto the Arch grounds from the City are open. **NOTE ABOUT RIVERFRONT ACCESS:Due the slope of the levee, the paved pathways on the cobblestones leading to the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch are not ADA compliant. [18] One estimate found that since the 1960s, the arch has incited almost $503 million worth of construction. 1. In March 1936, Representative Cochran commented during a House meeting that he "would not vote for any measure providing for building the memorial or allotting funds to it". The family celebrated with champagne, and two hours later, a competition representative called to correct the mistake. [57] Considering how large Federal projects often "go haywire", Secretary of War Newton D. Baker said, "This memorial will be like a cathedral; built slowly but surely. The budget for the project is $380 million and was set to be completed in 2018. [170], The first act of vandalism was committed in June 1968: the vandals etched their names on various parts of the arch. [11], The structural load is supported by a stressed-skin design. Where Hope Finally Made a Comeback. [55], Civil rights activists regarded the construction of the arch as a token of racial discrimination. [The coin] will help make it even more loved worldwide. The most aggressive criticism emerged from Gilmore D. Clarke,[39] whose February 26, 1948,[16] letter compared Saarinen's arch to an arch imagined by fascist Benito Mussolini, rendering the arch a fascist symbol. Plan to attend one of our ranger programs or special events! [16], On October 26, 1965, the International Association of Ironworkers delayed work to ascertain that the arch was safe. Please follow tour guide announcements. [32] The secretary who sent out the telegrams informing finalists of their advancement mistakenly sent one to Eliel rather than Eero. [176], A more comprehensive study of the corrosion had been suggested as early as 2006 by architectural specialists studying the Arch, and reiterated in a 2010 Historic Structure Report. It is the most iconic landmark in the Midwest, and it is located in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America. Live Trading Lab; Financial Literacy The two were also charged with two misdemeanors: disorderly conduct and commercial photography in a national park. Pack lightly for faster screening. Stand in the footsteps of American heroes at this beautifully restored federal courthouse. "[136] Vincent, a construction worker and diver from Harvey, Louisiana,[137] said he did it "just for the excitement, just for the thrill," and had previously parachuted off the World Trade Center in May 1991. MacDonald Construction Company of St. Louis was the primary contractor on the project. f [151], In 2006, arch officials hired a "physical security specialist," replacing a law enforcement officer. In his decision, Noce stated, "There are places in our country where the sufficiently skilled can savor the exhilaration and personal satisfaction of accomplishing courageous and intrepid acts, of reaching dreamed-of heights and for coursing dangerous adventures," but added that other places are designed for "the exhilaration of mere observation and for the appreciation of the imaginings and the works of others. 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 (38m) up the north leg of the arch to "expose the fact that federal funds were being used to build a national monument that was racially discriminating against black contractors and skilled black workers." This arch is shaped like a parabola, and they are used in bridges, cathedrals, and many other areas in both engineering and architecture. This project was completed in December 2014. Visitation: The number of visitors to the the Gateway Arch National Park increased to approximately 1.15 million in 2021. Pgina de inicio. [64] A Catholic priest and a rabbi prayed over the keystone,[36] a 10-short-ton (9.1t), eight-foot-long (2.4m) triangular section. [6] (Cruise times and hours vary. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Visitors enter the Arch through the west entrance, which faces Fourth Street and the Old Courthouse. Learn more about the grounds here! After NPS director Kenneth Chapman gave his word that conditions were "perfectly safe," construction resumed on October 27. [143] At the checkpoints, visitors are screened by magnetometers and x-ray equipment,[144] devices which have been in place since 1997. This allegation of plagiarism ignited fierce debates among architects about its validity. The site is near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. At 40, shining Arch still is beacon to visitors", "Gateway Arch Marks 20 Years Over St. Louis", "Lofty Gateway Arch Dedicated And Hailed by HHH in St. Louis", "Architecture: Fitting Site; American Institute of Architects Meets in St. Louis, a Changing City", "St. Louis' Two-Legged Tower: Tallest U.S. Monument", "Spectacle in Steel: St. Louis' Giant Gateway Arch", Notices of the American Mathematical Society, "The Incredible Gateway Arch: America's Mightiest National Monument", "St. Louis Gateway Arch will be illuminated at night", "Monument Soon Will Light Up The Night Sky; Arch Illumination Project Gets Green Light", "Visitors Take A Shine To Illuminated Arch", "Pink may light Arch in breast cancer fight", "St. Louis Arch to Glow Pink for Anti-Cancer Cause", "Gateway Arch draws the most visitors in St. Louis", "After 8 months, tram in St. Louis Gateway Arch moving again", "International Design Competition to Invigorate the Gateway Arch Starts Today", "Revised riverfront plan, including gondolas, to be unveiled Wednesday", "Proposal unveiled for revamped Gateway Arch park", "Latest Arch plan has $578 million price tag, calls for closing Memorial Drive", "Plans for Arch grounds attract curious crowds and praise", "Archscape design competitors take their visions to the jury", "Arch's park-over-highway bridge completed, ready for landscaping work", "Gateway Arch museum, visitors center to open in time for Fair St. Louis", "The Ups & Downs Of Jefferson Expansion Memorial Park", "St. Louis Arch Train System Opens After Many Delays", "Tram out of service after Gateway Arch mishap", "200 Trapped in Gateway Arch for 2 Hours", "Worker injured by tram inside Gateway Arch", "Arch trams shut down, stranding visitors", "Group trapped at top of Arch after malfunction", "St. Louis Arch tram stalls, trapping visitors", "Arch tram loses power, passengers stuck", "St. Louis' Stainless Steel Streamline Baby", "Column 1: Hot air fans meet, shoot the breezes", "Innocent Plea In Arch Climb Defendant Had Said That He Pulled Off Stunt", "Photographer of arch jumper guilty of misdemeanor", "Security tightened at St. Louis Gateway Arch", "Gateway Arch will close if alert raised to 'red', "On Guard: Metal Detectors Make Debut at Gateway Arch", "Government Restricts Airspace At 3 U.S. [2] The monument opened to the public on June 10, 1967. The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The 125 seat lounge has views of the arch and is blocks from baseball & hockey.We have 18 cozy booths in our dining rooms and bars. It's almost as if you're here. Federal prosecutor Stephen Higgins called the act a "great stunt" but said it was "something the Park Service doesn't take lightly. Object location. It took more than three decades, but St. Louis had a memorial and a national park. The menu centers around the kitchens 14 ft wood-burning hearth. [132] In 2013 Alexander Polli, a European BASE jumper, planned to fly a wingsuit under the arch but had his demo postponed by the FAA. From stargazing workshops and yoga under the Arch to concerts, cruises, and holiday celebrations, theres always something new to learn and do at the Gateway Arch. Gateway Arch The arch was designed by Finnish-born American architect Eero Saarinen in 1948 and was constructed between 1963 and 1965. Due to the heavy security, he instead decided to climb up the arch's exterior using suction cups, which he had used before to scale shorter buildings. Supported by Saarinen and NPS engineer Julian Spotts, it would route the tracks in a tunnel below Second and First Streets. William Allen White, a renowned newspaper editor, advised Smith not to fret. Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri. See the Mississippi River and Illinois to the east. [152], Robert W. Duffy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 4, 2003, Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States, the arch typifies "the pioneer spirit of the men and women who won the West, and those of a latter day to strive on other frontiers." This deferral delayed the construction's ultimate completion, which had been slated for St. Louis' bicentennial. c The final piece was put in place on October 28, 1965. Pricing valid through 2023. Smith impugned their motives, accusing them of being "opposed to anything that is ever advanced in behalf of the city. Commemorative pins were awarded to the first 100,000 passengers. In December 1992, Vincent was sentenced to ninety days in jail for violating his probation. He wondered where the road was leading them. On a clear day, you can see up to 30 miles in either direction. This project features a landscaped structure over Interstate 70 and rerouted surface traffic that had previously formed a moat separating the Gateway Arch from the Old Courthouse. A decision was delayed for several months because Saarinen had yet to designate the arch's height, projected between 590 and 630 feet (180 and 190m). Hope this answers your question. If driving by car,parking is available for a cash fee on the levee at 50 South Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63102. "[28], The idea of an architectural competition to determine the design of the memorial was favored at the JNEMA's inaugural meeting. The passage of a year brought little success, and Smith frantically underwrote the remaining $40,000 in May 1946. Once he revisited a generous sponsor, requesting more money: "Now you have to protect your investment". St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, MO), pp. About 250,000 people were expected to attend, but rain canceled the outdoor activities. She said her husband "was not a hot dog, daredevil skydiver" and that he had prepared for the jump two weeks in advance. This hyperbolic cosine function describes the shape of a catenary. Personal wellness is well within reach. [g], Bi-State put in $3.3million revenue bonds and has operated the tram system since. Pricing varies based on date of visit. Both the Gateway Arch itself and its designed landscape are recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of a weighted catenary arch, [5] it is the world's tallest arch [4] and Missouri's tallest accessible building. The Old Courthouse Temporarily Unavailable Riverboats at the Gateway Arch Cruising March through November (Cruise times and hours vary. [161] This outlook has seen continuation, lending the Gateway Arch's iconic shape and meaning to the name and logo of the future Lunar Gateway, with its purpose as a gateway to the Moon and Mars. One of the most important cases ever tried in the United States began here when Dred and Harriet Scott filed for their freedom. Eisenhower signed it into law on September 7. Resources for CBD; Third Party Tests; About Us; Contact Us; Shop. For maps and directions, go to gatewayarch.com/riverboatdirections. Upon four days of deliberation, the jury narrowed down the 172 submissions, which included Saarinen's father Eliel,[29] to five finalists, and announced the corresponding numbers to the media on September 27. The tourists were safely brought down the arch in the north tram, which had been closed that week so officials could upgrade it with a new computer system. Gateway To Freedom The Pdf If you ally compulsion such a referred Gateway To Freedom The Pdf ebook that will pay for you worth, get the totally best seller from us currently from several preferred authors. "[56][57] This incident inter alia spurred the United States Department of Justice to file the first pattern or practice case against AFLCIO under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, on February 4, 1966, but the department later called off the charges. [71], In June 1976, the memorial was finalized by federal allocations"the statue of Thomas Jefferson was unveiled, the Museum of Westward Expansion was previewed, a theater under the Arch was dedicated in honor of Mayor Raymond Tucker and the catenary-like curving staircases from the Arch down to the levee were built. The entire Jefferson National Expansion Memorial consists of the Gateway Arch and grounds (about 62 acres), plus another 30 acres encompassing the Old Courthouse, Luther Ely Smith Square, and many of the surrounding streets. [93] The previous time the arch was illuminated for promotional purposes was on September 12, 1995,[94] under the management of local companies Fleishman-Hillard and Technical Productions when a rainbow spectrum was shone on the arch to publicize the debut of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' Wizard of Oz on Ice at the Kiel Center. Visiting the Riverboats from the Arch grounds: New, sloping pathways now lead from the Arch grounds down to the riverfront. Many families park strollers there, so you may want to label yours with your name and address. He articulates the arch's multiple "moods""reflective in sunlight, soft and pewterish in mist; crisp as a line drawing one moment, chimerical the next"as a way the arch has "paid for itself many times over in wonder". Some sources consider it the tallest human-made monument in the Western Hemisphere. All Rights Reserved. 1 Browse 1,329 gateway_arch stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Witman's pictures of the construction are now housed in the State Historical Society of Missouri. It also asserted that the funds were sanctioned by an executive order, but superintendent John Nagle pointed out that what "one Executive Order does, another can undo". [120] Almost immediately after the tram returned to service in 2008, however, it was closed again for new repairs after an electrical switch broke. ", "Union Dispute Stops Work on Gateway Arch", "Wow! As the pair disregarded demands to get off, protesters on the ground demanded that at least 10% of the skilled jobs belong to African Americans. [52] He visited the construction site frequently from 1963 to 1967 recording of every stage of progress. The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot monument in St. Louis, Missouri. Tram Ride to the Top Great monuments inspire you to explore new heights. [49][74] The arch is hollow to accommodate a unique tram system that takes visitors to an observation deck at the top. [133] The accident was witnessed by several people, including Swyers' wife, also a parachutist. [90] Both Estee Lauder and May Department Store Co. had championed the cause. The NPS held off on appropriating the additional funds, as it planned to use the already-appropriated funds to initiate the railroad work. They broke ground for the Arch in 1959 and construction of the Gateway Arch began February 12, 1963. It takes 4 minutes to go up to the top and 3 minutes to come down (thanks gravity!). Saarinen's team included himself as designer, J. Henderson Barr as associate designer, and Dan Kiley as landscape architect, as well as Lily Swann Saarinen as sculptor and Alexander Girard as painter. The north tram was temporarily affected by the power outage as well, but some passengers were able to exit the arch through the emergency stairs and elevator. Maintenance workers use mops[176] and a temporary setup of water containers to ease the problem. A representative of AFLCIO said, "This policy has nothing to do with race. A 4-minute tram ride to the arch's summit offers sweeping views of the city landscapes, including the . Although Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel initially refused to pursue what it considered a precarious venture, the company relented after discovering that leaving the initials would cost $225,000 and after that, $42,000 per month,[59] and the NPS dropped its lawsuit. [87][88], On October 5, 2004, the U.S. Senate, at the pressing of Senators Jim Talent and Kit Bond, approved a bill permitting the illumination in pink of the arch in honor of breast cancer awareness month. His successor, Oscar L. Chapman, rescheduled the meeting for December 5 in Washington with delegates from the city government, JNEMA, railroad officials, and Federal government. Search, View, Online UM-St. Louis WHMC Photo Database. 630 feet, which is 63 stories, 192 meters, or 7,560 inches tall, making it the tallest man-made monument in the United Statestaller than the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument, and even the Space Needle in Seattle. The tallest monument, Gateway Arch, is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson as well as his ambitions for America's westward progress. [139] Stone said 37-year-old Ronald Carroll and 27-year-old Robert Weinzetl, both St. Louis residents, were found with a wireless communication headset and a video camera, as well as a still camera with a telephoto lens. 1 The Bi-State Development Agency assessed that it suffered losses of $2,000 for each day the trains were stagnant. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. The Gateway Arch Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to ensure that the Gateway Arch, its grounds, neighboring public space, and attractions will be a vital, welcoming, well-supported resource to the community and nation for generations to come. [129] During the flight, on which the St. Louis park director was a passenger, the balloon hit the arch and plummeted 70 feet before recovering.[130]. x First, your tour guide will lead you through an interactive multimedia experience prior to boarding the tram. Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States, it is the centerpiece of . "[27] He wanted the landscape surrounding the arch to "be so densely covered with trees that it will be a forest-like park, a green retreat from the tension of the downtown city," according to The New York Times architectural critic Aline Bernstein Louchheim. NPS responded that the city would reduce its contribution if the federal government did. {\displaystyle C=\cosh ^{-1}{\frac {Q_{b}}{Q_{t}}}=3.0022}. Gateway Arch National Park Grounds: Motor vehicles are prohibited butelectric-powered mobility assistance devices (e.g. The gateway arch preseved the tradition of mathematical rigor and formal simplicity in the design of American monuments, that began with the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, while. On June 15, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill into law, instituting the United States Territorial Expansion Memorial Commission. It was built to commemorate the westward expansion of the United States.It's meant to represent a "Gateway to the West." Classically simple and elegant, the 630 foot high Gateway Arch is indeed a majestic and even inspiring sculpture. [10] Koko, who was a stunt double for Superman, wanted to perform the leap during Fourth of July celebrations. To support this massive, 43,226-ton structure, the foundations go about 60 feet into the ground.