We interrupt this vacation planning thread for a brief history lesson about the St. Louis Arch...a failed attempt on the part of the McDonald's Corporation to create the world's largest golden arches. When the enginnering and architectural teams hired for the task were unable to create a double arch the company walked away from the project in disgust, leaving the iconic, single stainless steel arch looming over downtown St. Louis as a permanent monument to bad taste - literally and figuratively speaking.
It should be noted that in the interest of civic progress and generating tourism dollars the Regional Commerce and Growth Association has developed an "offficial" history of the arch that is much more bland than the truth. Here is a blip from the National Parks Service which today is in charge of keeping the arch polished to a high gleam:
Thomas Jeffersons vision of the spread of freedom and democracy from sea to shining sea inspired Eero Saarinens masterpiece of modern design. The 630 foot stainless steel Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis role as the gateway to the West. The park is a memorial to Jeffersons role in opening the West through the Louisiana Purchase, to the pioneers who helped shape the history of the American West, and to Dred Scott who sued for his freedom from slavery in the Old Courthouse.
Visitors to the Gateway Arch can tour the Museum of Westward Expansion, ride the tram to the top, and watch the movies Gateway to the West and Monument to the Dream.
The Arch, designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, stands 630 feet (192 m) tall, and is 630 feet (192 m) at its widest point. It is the tallest habitable structure in St. Louis (taller than One Metropolitan Square, the tallest building), and the second tallest in Missouri (behind One Kansas City Place in Kansas City). . The cross-sections of its legs are equilateral triangles, narrowing from 54 feet (16.5 m) at the base to 17 feet (5.2 m) at the top. Each wall consists of a stainless steel skin covering reinforced concrete from ground level to 300 feet (91 m) or carbon steel and rebar from 300 feet (91 m) to the peak. The interior of the Arch is hollow and contains a unique transport system leading to an observation deck at the top. The interior of the Arch also contains two emergency stairwells in the event of a need to evacuate the Arch or if a problem develops with the tram system.
Near the top of the arch, a rider will exit the compartment and climb a slight grade to enter the arched observation area. Small windows, almost invisible from the ground, allow views across the Mississippi River and southern Illinois with its prominent Mississippian culture mounds to the east at Cahokia, and the City of Saint Louis and St. Louis County to the west beyond the City. On a clear day, one can see up to thirty miles (48 km).
Underneath the Arch is a visitor center, entered from a descending outdoor ramp starting at either base. Within the center is the Museum of Westward Expansion, exhibits on the history of the St. Louis riverfront, and tram loading and unloading areas. Tucker Theater, finished in 1968 and renovated 30 years later, has about 285 seats and shows a documentary (Monument to the Dream) on the Arch's construction. Odyssey Theater was completed in 1993 and has 255 seats. It was the first 70 mm film theater to be located on National Park Service grounds and operated by the NPS. It runs films from a rotating play list.
My work here is done. Please feel free to return to your cruise plans.
. He was well impressed that Peter Pan had written to him - good thinking 
(I guess that would be how you'd do that with the smilies. Kinda like Jelly Bellies. Take two different flavors to make a third.)
