Gateway Arch

I remember the first time I saw the majestic Gateway Arch: a black-and-white photograph in my middle school algebra textbook, provided as an example of a catenary curve. That was also the last time I saw the Arch until I drove across the Mississippi River with luggage and furniture in tow, ready to start my adventure in St. Louis. The most iconic structure of the city, the Arch is also the world’s tallest arch and the tallest monument in the country. It was built in the 1960s to commemorate the western expansion of the United States, and I certainly felt its welcoming presence as I neared the end of my 13-hour road trip from the East Coast. The inside of the Arch is an engineering marvel and it’s a fascinating experience to ride the futuristic pods to the peak, where you’ll get a 630-foot bird’s eye view of both sides of the city. You’d better get acquainted with it quickly too — everybody and their mother, including yours, will want to take the 20-minute round trip to the top.