Spring Break 2015 St. Louis, MO.

Spring Break 2015

St. Louis, MO

The Gateway Arch a Monument to Westward Expansion

October 2015 will be the 50th anniversary of the arch.  It is an engineering marvel.  One that many thought could not be accomplished.  It took three years to complete the arch and it was done without the loss of one life.  Hard to imagine when they were working 630 feet in the air without safety harnesses.

Standing underneath the arch it feels as though you are looking at something that could not possibly be man made. It seems "other" worldly...very futuristic.  It reminded me of the movie Elysium.

The arch represents the role of St. Louis as a gateway to westward expansion in the 1800s.  

Finally, after what seemed like days of driving through rain and 

road construction we reached the Missouri State Line.

Caylin was super excited to mark another state off of her list! 

She has now visited 32 of the 50.  

It's hard to imagine the grandeur

 of the arch until you stand under it. 

This is what the pod you ride to the top looks like. 

I had to wait a few minutes to take this picture.  

There was a lady sitting in the pod having a panic attack about 

riding in it to the top.  

I wonder if she overcame her fear and made it? 

The ride to the top takes four minutes.  

The ride down takes around 3 1/2 minutes

The old historic courthouse.  The Dred-Scott case was heard here.  

Caylin working on her Junior Ranger Badge

The old courthouse has four wings around a rotunda.  

During the 1800s the rotunda served 

as a public forum for political speeches, debates and meetings.  

The jury chairs look very uncomfortable

Amazing architecture and woodwork

The old historic courthouse in the distance.

 Picture taken from directly in front of the arch

Waiting to go to the top.  Our tickets were for 1:25

Being silly inside of the visitor center waiting for 1:25

Our pod number....waiting for it to arrive

At the top!!!  Feels like the top of the world

The mighty Mississippi and the end of the Lewis and Clark Expedition near this spot

Budweiser Stadium in the distance ...home to the St. Louis Cardinals

Yes, that is a smile!

Inside the top of the arch

The little boy standing to the left of Caylin was also named Kaylin (age 10).  

He rode the pod up with us along with his grandpa who is standing to the right of Caylin. 

 They are from San Antonio.  

The grandpa was stationed in St. Louis many years ago and had already been to the top.

Entry into a Starbucks near the Arch!

Fun at the top....being photobombed by a very fun tour guide!

IN the pod on the way down.  It bumps, jerks and rattles