The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the United States. This iconic monument towers 630 feet over the Mississippi River and is a symbol of America’s westward expansion. The Arch has a rich history and fascinating facts that can inspire some intriguing riddles. Here are 53 riddles about the Gateway Arch along with their answers.
Riddles about the Gateway Arch Design
Riddle 1
What shape is the Gateway Arch?
Answer: The Gateway Arch is in the shape of a catenary curve, which is the shape a free-hanging chain or cable takes when supported at both ends. This allows the Arch to support itself with minimal framework.
Riddle 2
How tall is the Gateway Arch?
Answer: The Gateway Arch is 630 feet (192 meters) tall. It is the tallest monument in the United States.
Riddle 3
What is the width of each leg of the Arch at ground level?
Answer: Each leg is 54 feet (16 meters) wide at ground level.
Riddle 4
What is the Gateway Arch made of?
Answer: The Arch is made of stainless steel and concrete. The outer skin of the arch is stainless steel while the interior structural frame is carbon steel.
Riddle 5
Why was stainless steel chosen as the exterior surface of the Arch?
Answer: Stainless steel was chosen so the Arch would glisten in the sun and require minimal maintenance. Stainless steel does not need to be painted or treated, and it provides corrosion resistance.
Riddles about the Gateway Arch Construction
Riddle 6
When was the construction of the Gateway Arch completed?
Answer: Construction was completed in October 1965 when the final section was put in place.
Riddle 7
How many years did it take to build the Gateway Arch?
Answer: It took about 3 years to construct the Gateway Arch between 1963 and 1965.
Riddle 8
How many sections was the Arch built with?
Answer: The Arch was built with 142 individual stainless steel sections.
Riddle 9
What special devices were used to curve the triangular sections during construction?
Answer: Hydraulic jacks were used to perfectly curve each triangular section before raising it into place.
Riddle 10
How was the Arch foundation constructed?
Answer: The foundation consisted of 54 concrete-filled caissons drilled into the bedrock beneath the site. They were sunk up to 60 feet deep and filled with concrete.
Riddles about the Gateway Arch History & Purpose
Riddle 11
What year was the Gateway Arch officially dedicated?
Answer: The Gateway Arch was dedicated on May 25, 1968.
Riddle 12
Who was the architect who designed the Gateway Arch?
Answer: Eero Saarinen was the architect who designed the iconic Gateway Arch.
Riddle 13
What does the Gateway Arch symbolize?
Answer: The Arch symbolizes St. Louis’s role as the “Gateway to the West” during America’s westward expansion in the 19th century.
Riddle 14
When did the idea for building a monument in St. Louis first emerge?
Answer: The idea emerged in the 1930s as a way to revitalize the St. Louis riverfront.
Riddle 15
Why was the site of the Gateway Arch chosen?
Answer: The site was chosen because it was the historic departure point for early explorers, pioneers and settlers heading west.
Riddles about the Gateway Arch Location
Riddle 16
In what city is the Gateway Arch located?
Answer: The Gateway Arch is located in St. Louis, Missouri.
Riddle 17
What major river does the Gateway Arch sit alongside?
Answer: The Gateway Arch sits along the banks of the Mississippi River.
Riddle 18
What National Park is the Gateway Arch part of?
Answer: The Gateway Arch is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.
Riddle 19
What neighborhoods surround the Gateway Arch grounds?
Answer: The Arch grounds are bordered by the Downtown St. Louis neighborhoods of Laclede’s Landing, Old Courthouse, and Downtown West.
Riddle 20
What type of public transportation can you take to the Gateway Arch?
Answer: You can take the St. Louis MetroLink light rail system to the Arch Transit Center at the Gateway Arch.
Riddles about Going Inside the Gateway Arch
Riddle 21
Is it possible to go inside the Gateway Arch?
Answer: Yes, you can ride unique tram capsules up inside the Arch to an observation deck at the top.
Riddle 22
How many tram capsules take visitors to the top of the Arch?
Answer: There are 8 tram capsules total, with 5 oriented northbound and 3 oriented southbound.
Riddle 23
How long does the tram ride up inside the Arch take?
Answer: The tram ride takes 4 minutes to ascend up and 3 minutes to descend back down.
Riddle 24
How many passengers can each tram capsule hold?
Answer: Each tram capsule can hold up to 5 passengers.
Riddle 25
What exhibit is located underneath the Gateway Arch?
Answer: The Museum of Westward Expansion is located directly below the Arch.
Riddles about the Gateway Arch Grounds
Riddle 26
What other famous historic site sits near the Gateway Arch on the Mississippi riverfront?
Answer: The iconic Old Courthouse, site of the Dred Scott case, sits near the Gateway Arch.
Riddle 27
What modes of transportation operate around the Gateway Arch grounds?
Answer: Riverboats, the MetroLink, pedicabs, horse & carriage rides, and electric buses all operate around the Arch grounds.
Riddle 28
What feature was added in the 1990s to make the Arch grounds more pedestrian friendly?
Answer: A continuous riverfront cobblestone park was built to connect the grounds and make it more walkable.
Riddle 29
What unique viewing opportunity is available on the grounds of the Gateway Arch?
Answer: You can look directly up underneath the Arch from special underground viewing windows.
Riddle 30
What landscape architect helped design the grounds surrounding the Gateway Arch?
Answer: Famous landscape architect Dan Kiley helped design the expansive plaza and reflecting ponds around the Arch.
Riddles about Fun Facts on the Gateway Arch
Riddle 31
What popular fast food chain opened one of its earliest restaurants on the Gateway Arch grounds in 1967?
Answer: McDonald’s opened an early location right on the Gateway Arch grounds.
Riddle 32
What world-famous athlete lived in St. Louis near the Gateway Arch as a child?
Answer: Baseball Hall-of-Famer Yogi Berra grew up in St. Louis near the site of the future Gateway Arch.
Riddle 33
What unique mode of transportation briefly operated trips to the top of the Gateway Arch during construction?
Answer: A temporary elevator carried workers up during construction before the trams were installed.
Riddle 34
What Hollywood sci-fi movie featured the Gateway Arch in a key disaster scene?
Answer: In the movie Independence Day, the Arch is destroyed by aliens.
Riddle 35
What direction does the Gateway Arch face?
Answer: The Gateway Arch runs east-west, facing the Mississippi River along its western leg.
Riddles about Gateway Arch Events & Activities
Riddle 36
What unique St. Louis event occurred at the Gateway Arch on its 50th anniversary?
Answer: St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright threw a curveball 650 feet from home plate to the top of the Arch.
Riddle 37
What special light display illuminates the Gateway Arch at night?
Answer: The Gateway Arch Light Show uses LED lighting to create colorful light displays on the Arch.
Riddle 38
What free outdoor performing arts event takes place at the Gateway Arch each summer?
Answer: The Fair Saint Louis offers free concerts and airshows at the Arch grounds annually.
Riddle 39
What wintertime activity commonly takes place on the frozen ponds near the Gateway Arch?
Answer: Ice skating on the reflecting ponds is popular when they freeze over in winter.
Riddle 40
What annual foot race ends under the shadow of the Gateway Arch?
Answer: The GO! St. Louis Marathon ends near the Arch with the Arch as the backdrop.
Riddles about Gateway Arch Statistics & Records
Riddle 41
How many visitors go to the top of the Gateway Arch each year?
Answer: Over 1 million people typically visit the top of the Gateway Arch annually.
Riddle 42
What is the record time for climbing up the steps to the top of the Gateway Arch?
Answer: 7 minutes, 10 seconds is the record stair climb time to the top set in 1978.
Riddle 43
How thick are the walls of the Gateway Arch at the base?
Answer: The walls are 54 feet thick at the base, tapering to 18 inches thick at the top.
Riddle 44
What is the approximate weight of the entire Gateway Arch structure?
Answer: The Arch weighs approximately 17,246 tons.
Riddle 45
How many states can be seen from the top of the Gateway Arch on a clear day?
Answer: Up to 30 states can be seen stretching out from the top of the Arch on a clear day.
Riddles about the Gateway Arch Designer
Riddle 46
Where was Eero Saarinen, the Gateway Arch designer, originally from?
Answer: Eero Saarinen was Finnish-American originally from Kirkkonummi, Finland.
Riddle 47
What unique design concept did Eero Saarinen use for the Gateway Arch?
Answer: Saarinen pioneered the use of inverted catenary curves in architecture for the Gateway Arch design.
Riddle 48
What famous chair was also designed by Eero Saarinen?
Answer: Eero Saarinen designed the widely used Tulip Chair.
Riddle 49
What Terminal did Eero Saarinen famously design at JFK Airport?
Answer: Eero Saarinen designed the TWA Flight Center, now TWA Hotel, at JFK.
Riddle 50
Where can you view Eero Saarinen’s models and sketches for the Gateway Arch?
Answer: The Saarinen models & sketches are housed at the Museum of Westward Expansion.
Riddles about Maintaining & Cleaning the Gateway Arch
Riddle 51
How are the exterior stainless steel panels of the Gateway Arch cleaned and maintained?
Answer: Special climbers rappel down the sides of the Arch annually to clean and polish the panels.
Riddle 52
How often is the tram system inside the Gateway Arch shut down for maintenance?
Answer: The trams undergo a complete overhaul every 5 years, closing them for up to 9 months.
Riddle 53
What advanced technology helps monitor the structural stability of the Gateway Arch?
Answer: A laser Doppler system and LED lighting help monitor the health of the structure.
Conclusion
The Gateway Arch is truly an architectural wonder that stands as an iconic American landmark. These riddles cover fascinating facts about its design, construction, history, location, events, statistics, and more. Learning about the Arch through these riddles can help appreciate its engineering marvel and cultural significance even more. The Arch continues to amaze and inspire visitors from around the world today in downtown St. Louis.
