What Is the Gateway Arch?
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, is the tallest national historic landmark in the United States. It often is referred to as “the gateway to the West.” The hollow arch stands 630 feet (192 m) high, spans 630 feet (192 m) at ground level and is a popular tourist attraction. It opened to visitors in 1967, and more than a million people per year make the trek to the top of the legendary monument. The Gateway Arch is a part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. The arch itself reflects the westward expansion in the U.S. during the 1800s. In addition to the Gateway Arch, the park contains the Museum of Westward Expansion and the Old Courthouse, which was the site of the original Dred Scott trial and Virginia Minor’s case for women’s voting rights in 1870.
