"Gateway Arch in St. Louis"
It's known more famously as the St. Louis Arch, but the 630-foot monument that anchors the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is officially called the Gateway Arch.
And yes, it's taller than the 555-foot-tall Washington Monument in the nation's capital.
The Gateway Arch marks the role of St. Louis in the country's westward expansion in the 19th century.
Although named for President Thomas Jefferson and his role in expanding the young country, the park is also a memorial to the enslaved man Dred Scott, who unsuccessfully sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse.
World renowned architect Eero Saarinen, who had collaborated with his architect father on several projects, entered the 1947 memorial competition independently and won. It was his first major success, but certainly not his last.
A tram ride to the top of the arch's observation deck delivers a spectacular view of the city.
