The Gateway Arch
Subtitle: a biography
By: Tracy Campbell
Series: Icons of America; Icons of America
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2013
Language: eng
Number of pages: 217
ISBN-13: 9780300169492
Subjects: Buildings, structures; Arches; History; Gateway Arch (Saint Louis, Mo.); Design and construction
Description: Rising to a triumphant height of 630 feet, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a revered monument to America's western expansion. Envisioned in 1947 but not completed until the mid-1960s, the arch today attracts millions of tourists annually and is one of the world's most widely recognised structures. By weaving together social, political and cultural history, historian Tracy Campbell uncovers the complicated and troubling history of the beloved structure. This compelling book explores how a medley of players with widely divergent motivations (civic pride, ambition, greed, among others) brought the Gateway Arch to fruition, but at a price the city continues to pay. Campbell dispels long-held myths and casts a provocative new light on the true origins and meaning of the Gateway Arch. He shows that the monument was the scheme of shrewd city leaders who sought to renew downtown St. Louis and were willing to steal an election, destroy historic buildings, and drive out local people and businesses to achieve their goal.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 199-209) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction: Saarinen's cathedral; title: The New York of the West; title: Getting things done; title: The St. Louis municipal parking lot; title: A peculiarly happy form; title: The architect; title: The laughingstock of the world; title: "Got it made"; title: Expendable culture; title: Symbol and symptom.