62 years ago today, construction started on the Gateway Arch in St. Louis! Often referred to as “The Gateway to the West”, the arch stands 630 feet tall, making it the world’s tallest arch. It took more than 30 years from inspiration to completion to build the monument. Each leg was built independently from 142 pieces of prefabricated stainless steel. Welders had be extremely precise with their measurements, being off even just 1/64th of an inch would have caused the arch not to meet at the top. The arch was designed to withstand earthquakes and sway up to 18″ in either direction. In 2023, more than 2.4 million people visited the Gateway Arch National Park, the most visitors there in a decade. Learn more in the audio below.