Gateway Arch, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, St. Louis, Missouri
The Gateway Arch, designed by Archictect Eero Saarinen is a catenary arch built on the grounds of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. It is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson’s role in westward expansion and to Dred Scott’s role in obtaining freedom in the Old Courthouse.
Commissioned by President Jefferson as the Corps of Discovery, the Lewis and Clark Expedition was led by Merriweather Lewis and William Clark. The intent was to find a serviceable route to the Pacific Coast for commerce and for territorial advantage as well.
The arch is a symbol of discovery, of exploration. It symbolizes not just the discoveries of our ancestors but also serves as a conceptual beacon to guide and inspire us as we pursue discoveries that may help ourselves and civilization to advance.
I’ll discuss concepts of discovery further in my next blog posting.
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