I am visiting my girlfriend Marlene in Branson, Missouri.
A visit to Missouri is not complete without a trip to St. Louis to see the Gateway Arch.
Here is what we learned when we took the tram to the top:
- The monument is a symbol of the role St. Louis played in westward expansion during the 19th century.
- The Gateway Arch is 630 feet tall and 630 feet wide.
- The Arch is designed to withstand earthquakes and lightning strikes. It can sway up to 18 inches in 150 mile per hour winds.
- There are 1,076 steps in each Arch leg and they are used by maintenance personnel only. Visitors travel by tram to the top.
- On a clear day, visitors may see up to 30 miles in either direction.