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Steel Spotlighted in "Wonders of America: Land of Superlatives" Stamp Series


The Gateway Arch: An American
Steel Icon

One of steel's most legendary design achievements, The Gateway Arch, will be featured in the U.S. Postal Service stamp series, "Wonders of America: Land of Superlatives," beginning May 27. The steel arch is located in St. Louis, Mo. and is the tallest man-made monument in America, standing at 630-feet tall (63 stories).

The arch is a result of a nationwide competition in 1947 to display a monument that captured the spirit of western pioneers. Architect Eero Saarinen's proposal of the 630-foot stainless steel arch won the contest and his design later became the now world renowned Gateway Arch. It took two years and less than $15 million to construct the steel Arch. Completed on October 18, 1965, the strong steel structure lays 60 feet into the ground, and is built to withstand earthquakes and high winds, its strength and resilience mirroring the American spiriti.

AISI partnered with the late Charles Guggenheim, a four-time Oscar winning documentary director, in the award-winning film, "Monument to the Dream," produced by Guggenheim Productions. The film documents the construction of the steel arch and is viewed by the millions of visitors to the Gateway Arch each year. The monument's symbol of strength is iconic for the steel industry, its steelworkers and America. For more information, contact Katie Gallagher.

i. Facts regarding the history and construction of The Gateway Arch are from the National Park Service.