The Gateway Arch Symbolism

1040 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The influence of the westward movement on America

Ever since the discovery of our country, we have been classified as explorers. Moving from East to West, the city of St Louis, in Missouri, became the gateway city to the west. Over time this city and the arch that stands prominently on the shore of the Mississippi have come to symbolize westward movement. The Gateway Arch through purpose, design, and symbolism has become the visible representation of Thomas Jefferson’s philosophy and St. Louis’ role in the westward expansion of the United States. The Gateway Arch is a monument standing as a symbol. The opening to the exploration of the western half of the country was a big accomplishment and St. Louis, Missouri was the city chosen to represent the expansion of our country. The design of …show more content…

The Gateway Arch, or “Gateway to the West,” is the main attraction of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the extraordinary monument built on the west bank of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri, which was considered “the oldest European city in the Midwest.”. The riverfront site in St. Louis, Missouri was selected in 1935 as the site where they would put the national monument to symbolize the 19th century westward expansion. In order to create the land where the monument would stand they purchased the area equivalent to 40 city blocks and cleared all the buildings that were standing in the way. Then in 1947 a group of citizens in the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Association, held a nationwide contest in search of an appropriate design for the monument. The winner of the contest was a Finnish-American architect, Eero Saarien, with the design of the now famous arch. The design consisted of it being built with stainless steel. After studies were completed to see if stainless steel would be feasible for this design, the construction began on February 12, 1963. The construction of the arch was completed in October 28, 1965. Then the …show more content…

The renovated grounds will allow visitors to walk from the Luther Ely Square to the Arch. The riverfront will be one continuous greenway without having a single curb or stair. This will allow easier access to the Arch and Gateway Arch riverboats. As well as adding new bike paths that connect with the existing bike trail networks. They are looking to increase the accessibility by adding gently sloped pathways from the Arch grounds down to the riverfront. In 2018, you can experience the accessibility to second floor exhibits in the Old Courthouse. There will also be added more convenient bus drop-offs and parking so groups can enjoy new green spaces for educational programs and

Show More
Related

  • The Journey Of Christopher Columbus And Daniel Boone

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    These particular journeys would be featured as a two part series on the victims of manifest destiny. The beginning part of the first episode should discuss the theory of manifest destiny, opening with George Berkeley’s “Verses on the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning in America.” The last two lines of the poem should be emphasized as it discusses “…Westward the course of empire takes its way. The first four Acts already past, a fifth shall close the Drama with the day; time 's noblest offspring is the last.” This particular poem inspired Americans to claim land westward, as well as different painters to depict such action such as: Thomas Cole and Emmanuel Leutze. Leutze painted a picture with the title “Westward the Course of Empire Takes its Way.” This poem also depicts America as the last great civilization. It also reflects the ideas of the people during this time period. This idea Americans starting to move westward was depicted in the painting by Leutze. The painting ...

    Read More

  • The Perils of Expansion during Thomas Jefferson and James Polk

    875 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rich with exotic scenes and characters, the westward expansion of the United States has long intrigued the storyteller. Often, inspired by this setting, he has chosen to write of gunfights and Indian raids, or of idealistic pioneers battling nature on the frontier’s edge. But there exists a far darker epic of the high plains and the dry deserts: that of a nation whose drastic expansion rent it apart. The grandiose and decisive policies of American presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Polk saw the vast expanses west of the Mississippi River absorbed into the Union, extending the nation west to the Pacific and south to Mexico. Suddenly enlarged, the United States found itself beset by social, economic, and moral quandaries pertaining to the administration of its newfound territories. Unable to resolve these disputes, the nation split into factions formed along preexisting regional and political divides, which led ultimately to the violent and brutal bloodbath of civil war. The roots of this disastrous internecine conflict originated in the expansionistic strategies of both Jefferson and Polk, clearly indicting their actions as damaging to the nation they governed.

    Read More

  • Westward Expansion

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    Westward Expansion As the preface to the first edition states, Westward Expansion attempts to follow the pattern that Frederick Jackson Turner might have used had he ever compressed his researches on the American frontier within one volume. Dr. Billington makes no pretense of original scholarship except in limited instances. Instead a synthesis of the voluminous writings inspired by Turner's original essays is presented. In that respect, the book is highly successful.

    Read More

  • Westward Expansion Thesis

    688 Words  | 2 Pages

    Westward movement is the populating of lands, by the Europeans, in what is now known as the United States. The chief resolution of the westward expansion is economic betterment. The United States story begins with westward expansion and even before the Revolutionary war, early settlers were migrating westward into what is now known as the states of Kentucky,Tennessee, parts of the Ohio Valley and the South. Westward Expansion was slowed down by the French and the Native Americans, however the Louisiana Purchase significantly improved the expansion efforts. Westward expansion was enabled because of wars, the displacement of Native American Indians, buying land, and treaties. This paper will discuss the effects of westward expansion on domestic politics and on American relations with other nations.

    Read More

  • Bleeding Kansas

    1444 Words  | 3 Pages

    To fulfill its Manifest Destiny, especially following the discovery of gold in California, America was making plans to build a transcontinental railroad from east to west. The big question was where to locate the eastern terminal -- to the north, in Chicago, or to the south, in St. Louis. Douglas was firmly committed to ensuring that the terminal would be in Chicago, but he knew that it could not be unless the Nebraska territory was organized.

    Read More

  • Western Expansion

    4129 Words  | 9 Pages

    The Westward Expansion has often been regarded as the central theme of American history, down to the end of the19th century and as the main factor in the shaping of American history. As Frederick Jackson Turner says, the greatest force or influence in shaping American democracy and society had been that there was so much free land in America and this profoundly affected American society. Motives After the revolution, the winning of independence opened up the Western country and was hence followed by a steady flow of settlers to the Mississippi valley. By 1840, 10 new western states had been added to the Federal union. The frontier line ran through Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas on the western side of the river. All parts of the valley except Wisconsin and Minnesota were well populated. Thus a whole new section had been colonized with lasting effects on the American institutions, ideals and ways of living. The far west was the land of high mountains, deserts, strange rock formations, brilliant colors and immense distance. Fur trade with Europe had now become a lucrative business and the fur traders became the pathfinders for the settlers. Migration was now possible by the discovery of paths over which ox-driven carts could be driven through seeking mountains and across the western desert. People wanted to move away from the overcrowded cities and this led to the migration into the uninhabited lands. Increased transportation like roads, railroads and canals and their construction created a demand for cheap labor making it easier for people to get jobs now, in contrast with the cities where there was unemployment. The pioneer movement for 70 years after the revolution roughly represented the form of 3 parallel streams, flowing westwards from New England, Virginia and South Carolina. The first pioneer groups tended to move directly westward. Thus the new Englanders migrated into western New York and along the shores of the great lakes, Virginians into Kentucky and then into Missouri and the South Carolinians and Georgians into the gulf territories. Throughout the settlement of the Mississippi valley, most pioneers did not travel long distances and as a territory had been occupied, families would move into the adjacent one. There were boom periods of great activity, during which million acres of land were sold, alternated ...

    Read More

  • Jefferson Memorial and the Pantheon

    1341 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Jefferson Memorial is a testimonial to the past, present, and future of the United States. Its architecture, like most neo-Classical buildings, gives a sense of permanence. This permanence has a history far older than many would suspect. Centuries ago and thousands of miles away a building was erected that would later become the model for which many other buildings, including the Jefferson Memorial, are based upon. This building is the Roman Pantheon. Though the Jefferson Memorial borrows the basic form and elements from the Pantheon, the Memorial has distinctive differences from its predecessor.

    Read More

  • Contemporary Uses: The Pennsylvania State Capitol

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    Finally, I feel that The Pennsylvania State Capitol building embodies a unique balance of architecture and art. It is a place where the residents of the Pennsylvania can visit and learn about the significance and history of our state. It makes me proud to know that such a beautiful piece of architecture is only a few minutes away.

    Read More

  • Erie Canal Research Paper

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    The current size, inherent values, and economic status of the United States owes greatly to the paramount figures and events that took place during the Early National Period of the country. However, while there is no doubt that such events- and the figures behind them- were of great importance and have molded the country into the pristine product that it is today, the various construction projects of that time have gone largely unnoticed. Canals, being one of the most prominent advances in transportation, are prime examples of forgotten catalysts of the American nation. The construction of canals- particularly the Erie Canal- during the 19th century played a key role in the geographic, economic, and cultural development of the country by allowing an easier and faster mode of transport, and contributing greatly to the preservation of the Union during the Civil War.

    Read More

  • The Erie Canal

    1595 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the early days of America’s expansion westward, travel from the coast of North America into the heartland of the continent, was certainly a reoccurring problem. DeWitt Clinton, who served as the mayor of New York City and later Governor of New York State, had the vision and drive to build the first 363-mile long Erie Canal. In doing this DeWitt felt that America would control the expansion westward. It was feared that if the United States did not have a good connection to the west, that Canada could connect to the west and further more en...

    Read More

  • Synthesis Essay On A Monument

    574 Words  | 2 Pages

    A memorable monument is a historical structure that represents a significant person or event. They are designed to show the importance of either the person or event. Monuments are intended to last forever so the subject will never be forgotten to society. The factors that should be considered when creating a memorable monument are that the subject must be powerful and meaningful to society and the design should resemble the significance of the subject. These factors help communicate the magnitude of the individual or group’s sacrifice, as well as honor moments of great achievement in history.

    Read More

  • The Louisiana Purchase

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    Were it not for Jefferson’s daring purchase of the Louisiana Territory, the United States of America would have never become the most blessed and powerful nation on the face of the earth. Jefferson’s vision of an expanding America resulted in one the most influential events in American history. Lewis and Clark’s expedition played a crucial role in the opening of this new and vast western frontier. The Louisiana Purchase and the events that followed were truly monumental, although not many knew it at the time. As Fisher Ames wrote after the Louisiana Purchase, “Now by adding this unmeasured world beyond [the Mississippi], we rush like a comet into infinite space!”

    Read More

  • Waiting For Crazy Horse Analysis

    607 Words  | 2 Pages

    Eye catching pieces like a giant reflective bean, or a woman holding a torch with a crown, or four men fighting to hoist our nation's flag. Each different place has it's own cultural viewpoints and personal taste. This shows the importance of history especially to Americans. We value our history and try to captivate it in a form that will be visible for ages. The different aspects going into the creation of buildings or monuments is simply put, monumental. To create a monument, the place, the theme and the response should be gauged beforehand to ensure it's building. Humans are inspired by their own doing just as much as they are by nature. Just who and why a statue is memorialized can be a very difficult topic to discuss, as will be discussed using varying sources.

    Read More

  • Owl Creek Bridge Symbolism

    591 Words  | 2 Pages

    The short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, keeps you at the edge of your seat with its interesting story plot. Bierce uses symbolism, a form of literary technique, to bring deeper meaning to the short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Bierce also uses allusion, another form of literary technique, in the short story to keep the reader interested. The gray eyes mentioned in the story are a very important element included to symbolize the gray line within Farquhar’s mind because he has become lost. Ambrose Bierce uses literary techniques and foreshadowing to ultimately shock you with a tragic ending.

    Read More

  • monuments

    444 Words  | 1 Pages

    Monuments are a symbol of a significant time in history. Monuments represent life, death, success, and struggle just to name a few. They have become as important to society as the events they represent. They bring history alive to new generations and memories to those who experience them firsthand. Monuments create a bridge between generations. Many parents feel a certain indescribable joyfulness when they see the look in their child’s eyes they had went they viewed the same monument.

    Read More

More about The Gateway Arch Symbolism

Open Document