April 15, 2013
The Gateway Arch of Saint Louis rises to a height of 630 feet, towering over the west bank of the Mississippi River. It is the tallest man-made monument in our nation. The arch is intended to symbolize the role of that city as the gateway to the trans-Mississippi West and to pay tribute to the dynamic spirit of the pioneers who won the West. Campbell pays homage to those who designed and built the structure, but he indicates that the project has a less than pristine history, at variance with the iconic status of the monument. An arch was first conceived in 1933 by politicians, boosters, and businessmen, and it was expected to attract tourists and stimulate the local economy, particularly along the decaying riverfront. Almost immediately, local and even federal politics intervened, and various special interests fostered machinations and outright corruption. Actual construction was delayed until 1963 and was completed in 1965. Although the development fostered new problems, some of the hopes for the site have been realized.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)