St. Louis Arch

The Gateway Arch, or Gateway to the West, is an arch that is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri. It was built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States. At 630 feet (192 m), it is the tallest man-made monument in the United States.

An elevator runs inside the stainless structure, providing a spectacular view of the city and the countryside.

For pioneers, St. Louis was the jumping off place to the West. Located on the Mississippi River, it was the place where Covered Wagon Trains were organized to bring many settlers to the California and Western Half of the United States.

Photographing the arch was a challenge. No parking was available on our timetable so this shot was taken at a Stop Light using one hand with the point and shoot camera held through the Sun Roof of our van. In six years, it was the first practical use of the Sun Roof.