Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is comprised of the Gateway Arch (a National Historic Landmark), the Museum of Westward Expansion, and St. Louis' Old Courthouse.

Architect Eero Saarinen's design for a 630-foot stainless steel catenary arch was selected in a 1947 design competition as the ideal monument to the spirit of the western pioneers. However, construction on the Gateway Arch did not begin until the 1960s.

The Arch, the tallest monument in the United States, cost less than $15 million and was built to withstand high winds and earthquakes. Below the Gateway Arch lies the Museum of Westward Expansion, which houses an extensive collection of artifacts and an overview of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The nearby Old Courthouse, built in 1839, is one of the oldest existing buildings in St.Louis. The Old Courthouse is significant in African American history as Dred Scott sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse.