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Steel
Spotlighted in "Wonders of America: Land of Superlatives"
Stamp Series
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The Gateway
Arch: An American
Steel Icon

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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. |