Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
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The two RV Gypsies visited the Gateway Arch
July 22 and 23, 2017

USA map showing location of Missourimap of MO showing location of the Gateway Arch
size of the Gateway Arch
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

history bookThe Gateway Arch is a 630-foot monument in St. Louis, Missouri. Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of an inverted, weighted catenary arch, it is the world's tallest arch, the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere, and Missouri's tallest accessible building. Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States, and officially dedicated to "the American people," it is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and has become an internationally recognized symbol of St. Louis, as well as a popular tourist destination.

The Arch was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in 1947; construction began on February 12, 1963, and was completed on October 28, 1965, for $13 Βillion (equivalent to $190 million in 2015). The monument opened to the public on June 10, 1967. It is located at the site of St. Louis' founding on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

The Arch has served as the site for multiple incidents, accidents, and stunts, and following the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995 and the September 11 attacks it has received a number of security related upgrades.

Gateway Arch and USA flag

Below: Numerous views of the Gateway Arch, different angles and different times of day/evening.

Gateway Arch

Gateway Arch

Gateway Arch

Gateway Arch

Gateway Arch

Gateway Arch and the Church

Gateway Arch

During this time, the area all around and under the Gateway Arch was under construction.

Gateway Arch

Gateway Arch

The two RV went up into the Gateway Arch to get views from the tiny windows shown below. This was the second time they have been inside the Arch. To see the other photos (very different from these), use the link at the bottom of this page, but be sure to return to this page afterwards. That link also has photos of other things in this area that the two RV Gypsies did not see this time.

windows in Gateway Arch

Below: The stairway from the top of the Arch back down to the elevators. Each of the 8 elevators has 5 seats inside, really close together. The door to the elevator was only 4-feet high and the inside walls of the elevator were curved. There was not much head-room, and it was extremely crowded with 4 people seated inside. (It can seat a 5th person). The elevator journey took about 4 minutes.

Lee Duquette on the Arch Stairway

Below: The two RV Gypsies inside the Gateway Arch 630 feet above the ground.

Lee Duquette inside the Gateway Arch Karen Duquette inside the Gateway Arch

Below: Views from inside the Gateway Arch, taken though the tiny windows shown above. About 30 miles in every direction can be seen from this observation deck (on a clear day). Views looking west included the Old Courthouse, Busch Stadium, and Ballpark Village.

view from the Arch Window

view from the Arch Window

view from the Arch Window

view from the Arch Window

view from the Arch Window

museum art

look below
This is not a linear site, so there are 4 choices for navigation below:

Back up to the Gateway Arch photos from 2009, (2 pages) but be sure to return here afterwards.

OR

If you came here from the Gateway Arch 2022 page, or have not seen that section, return there now. It is very different from these.

OR

go to the next adventure of the two RV GypsiesContinue navigation in the order of occurrence - downtown St. Louis 2017.

OR

return to a previous page Return to the Missouri menu to continue navigation in the order of your choice.