Builders of the country's tallest national monument will be on hand Oct. 30 to share with visitors first-hand recollections of the construction of the Gateway Arch, which marks the 45th anniversary of its completion this month.
The builders, who were the most skilled in their trade in the 1960s, will be at the visitors center of the Gateway Arch at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to share private memorabilia and photos of their experience.
The National Park Service awarded a contract to Northbrook, Ill.-based structural engineering firm Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates for a structural study of the Gateway Arch, a move officials said was under way before reports surfaced last month about corrosion problems 17,246-ton monument to western expansion.
Nine hundred tons of stainless steel was used to build the 630-foot Arch, construction on which began Feb. 12, 1963 and finished on October 28, 1965 at a cost of $13 million.
Also last month, officials announced the winner of the international design competition for the overhaul of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. The competition guidelines called for a budget of $300 million, but actual costs could be much greater.
Children attending the Oct. 30 "Meet the Builders" event can learn about the construction of the Gateway Arch at an activities area that includes puzzles, coloring pages, and tabletop and floor interactive arch building blocks. Birthday cake will be available for visitors in the Levee Mercantile, while supplies last.
The event is being presented by the Jefferson National Parks Association with support from the National Park Service at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial as part of the anniversary celebration. The Gateway Arch is part of the Core of Discovery, a multi-faceted, downtown destination designed to attract local families and increase visibility of the attractions and activities in downtown St. Louis. |
