The day after the St. Louis Cardinals played one of the greatest World Series games in history, finally defeating the Texas Rangers to force a decisive 7th game tonight, I think that history will favor the Cards.
After all, today is the 46th anniversary of the completion of the Gateway Arch. This symbolical identity for the city as being the “gateway to the west” was forever immortalized on this date in 1965. The Cards play in the shadow of that Arch—and maybe the magic is rubbing off.
If last night’s game wasn’t a miracle (the Cards were down to their last strike TWICE, each time coming back), then certainly the Arch itself is a wonder to behold.
A miracle of engineering, one of willpower and one of spirit.
The brainchild of local businessman Luther Ely Smith, original grants were made in the 1930’s---but construction didn’t actually begin until 1959.
At 630 feet, it is the tallest man-made monument in the United States. Check out this fascinating footage of the Arch during construction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txQO3vxfinA
Despite an actuarial firm predicting thirteen people would die during construction, no one lost their life in the building of the Arch.
There were others who were predicting the two triangular legs would not match up when then met in the middle. Although fire hoses had to cool down the legs enough to contract a suitable amount to insert the capstone piece, everyone was amazed at the precision of the design and its implementation.
Sitting on the west bank of the Mississippi River, the Gateway Arch cost $13 million dollars, which translates loosely to about $90 million in today’s dollars. Original detractors of the plans for a monument were in favor of reviving the St. Louis waterfront, but favored more practical elements, believing the Arch was “folly” and a waste of money.
Of course, time has proven them wrong. In addition to lifting the spirits of a community and enhancing civic pride, the Gateway Arch has proven a real money maker, attracting tourists from all over the world.
It all started as dream—and now sits as a reality that is still (at least to me) a miracle!
If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@cumulus.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment