Jared, I worked at the Arch as a Tour Guide and Park Ranger for five years, this video is incredibly well done. It is probably the best video explaining the Arch I have ever seen.
I have a question then, since the “train cars” going up are limited in size, and were designed when potential passengers would have been “smaller” so to speak, has there been any issues with the “tram cars” limitations?
I was always wondering how that building was supposed to have an elevator in it. Thanks for the animated demonstration! They should definitely play this video in their theater!
Strangely enough, besides the trams there are in fact, 2 elevators in the legs, but they go less than halfway up before the arch bends too far. After that, it switches to very steep stairs and the to very shallow stairs at the top. Each pod has a small escape hatch under the backseat. (Frankly, I don’t think I would fit through it.) If the tram gets stuck between stations, the passengers are evacuated through that hatch and climb down to the elevators or up to the observation deck. Several years ago, they revamped to pods, changed out their doors and added new controls to the trams. The motors for the trams are at the top and the controls for the trams are mostly under the floor in the observation deck. The motor’s power centers (MCCs) are at the bottom. I’ve been up and down on the tram and down through the inside. That’s a long walk and royally sucks if you have a fear of heights. I would have real trouble making the walk up. The steel cables that operate the trams are replaced every few years and the motors are rewound every few decades, I think.
My great grandma was actually on the grounds when the last piece got put on, she has this amazing picture of her and her husband with my grandma in front of them without the final piece on. I miss her she was born in 1928 lived a long beautiful life up until two years ago. The stories she had.
Nate, your story reminds me of my mother's mother, Nana. She was born in 1898. Her husband had several Ford dealerships in the L.A. area and she taught all sorts of people how to drive their new cars, well before there were DMVs and licensing. During the Depression, many people had to turn their cars back in, but one man needed his truck, so he traded his gas station to my grandfather. When Nana sold it in 1968(?) it was worth $350k. L.A. had grown up around it. Nana also owned an airplane which she flew up to Lake Tahoe, CA. She knew Vic Tanny, a famous fitness icon, who had instilled a sense of fitness in her. She was still doing exercises in her 90s. She passed away at age 94 after telling us thousands of her wonderful stories. I miss her, too.
Jared, this is BY FAR the best overviews of the Gateway Arch I have found online. For anyone local to STL or even halfway around the world, this video gives viewers great insight to one of the most magnificent engineering feats in the world. Thank you for creating this.
When I was a little kid our family went up the Arch and I freaked out in fear, that was almost 60 years ago. Good to see how it works now so long ago from the comfort of my living room!
There's the arch! Said by every St. Louis kid any time you drive towards the city :) I still say it in my head, and it's a meme on the St. Louis subreddit. You made an excellent video, honestly the Arch website could put this up as the official tour video and it's probably better than whatever they've contracted out in the past. Great work!
Haha. As a little kid my siblings and I would always want to be the first to see and say "THERE'S THE ARCH" when we were driving home from vacationing in Florida. I passed this on to my kids who did the same thing when they were little.
Grew up in St. Louis area (Belleville IL) and my parents still live there. Love seeing the Arch every time I come home to visit. It's been many years since I've been up to the top though. This video is awesome as I've known the Arch for most of my life but didn't know how it was built or how the trams worked. Top quality animation and attention to detail! The amount of stairs you would have to climb is insane. Love your videos by the way! My friend and I enjoy our trips to the STL Micro Center when I'm in town. I've gotten many Raspberry Pis there.
I’m a 35 year-old New Yorker, and I’ve known about the Arch almost my whole life. I’ve seen it from a plane, but I’ve never visited. I had no idea until right now that you could go up inside it. I thought it was just like a giant sculpture. Fascinating video!
Speaking of spotlights, the new lighting system that they installed under the Arch in late 2023 looks great, if you haven't had a chance to go see the Arch at night in the past 6 months or so.
As a St Louis transplant, when you get here, it just feels like you’ve literally found the nation’s”Hidden Gem”. Having lived here almost 2 decades it still floors me that the country doesn’t know about this Legacy city.
8:23 There is incredible attention to detail in this animation except the part where the cables placing the keystone magically pass through the hydraulic spreader. lol
What an astonishing feat of engineering! Such a shame the designer didn’t live long enough to see it built. Your videos are always fantastic, Jared. Very interesting and engaging.
This thing either gave me or solidified my fear of heights. My family went on a trip to St Louis, and we went up the Arch, as you do. That sideways elevator ride up, the tiny corridor at the top, and the height of the thing had me almost paralyzed at the top and it took all the effort I could muster just to hobble my way across to the elevator down. Maybe I only started actually noticing it afterwards, but since then, I've always struggled with heights, and even just elevators. I have a love for the Arch in the same way I have one for the Bean in Chicago, since it's just a very cool piece of art, but I promise you that never again in my life will I ever go back up the thing.
@@Eddo15878 I've been in the Arch (~mid 1990s) as well as the observation decks of the ESB (1970s). Bit of a shame to have height phobias limit opportunities, but I'm glad I didn't get so nervous in my "height challenges".
Another visitor of the arch here, and amazing work Jared! It is exactly as I remember it, and something that isn't quite covered in your video is the shifting scale of the thing. Even though its got 3 sides, the edges aren't always defined at the certain angles and the size almost seems to shift based on perspective, both from far away and close, and walking around it. Coupled with the stainless steel, its a dazzling effect and truly mesmerizing. I strongly recommend anyone within 500 miles to take a trip and visit the Arch, there isn't a bad view to be found near it or at the top!
I was 8 years old when the Arch Keystone was put in, I have been there over 100 times riding the tram almost every time! This is one of the best video presentations I’ve ever seen of the arch. You could include a little bit of the original footage of the Keystone being put in. I think a lot of people appreciate seeing that. A lot of my dad‘s friends worked on the arch. It was really a thing of pride and joy for people in St. Louis.🎉
I was 9 when the Keystone was put in but did not actually ride to the top until 1974. It's been a while but I remember going into the theater and watching a film on the construction. For the life of me I could have sworn that I remembered watching the film with construction footage and a mention that an construction worker was killed. Looking up information on the Arch now it is mentioned that there were NO deaths incurred. Do you recall anything like this or am I just having a false memory?
As a St. Louisan, it's easy to take the Arch for granted because it's such a common sight, but when you see it through the eyes of a visitor, you're reminded of how great it is and the considerable engineering it took to make happen.
I was on the tram as a kid like 12ish first time in the late 60's. Another guy does a video actually riding in the tram. I noticed a difference. The tram cars self level as they go up, seems sort of smooth, slight movement... When I went up in the late sixties, when it "leveled" going up it was much more noticable with a racheting type of noise and three or four slight jerking movements as it leveled. It did this at set intervals so you were never too unlevel, but it wasn't a continuous adjustment. As a kid it was amazingly fun... The whole thing.
I visited the arch in 2018 during our road travels on R66. I was just amazed at the way it was built and the excellent workmanship. Well done to all those who built this fantastic memorial. Ian - New Zealand.
I'm an American living in Finland, and was pretty surprised to hear Eero Saarinen's name! I knew he designed a building for Bell Labs but had no idea that he designed the Gateway Arch.
He was brought to the city of Columbus, Indiana in the '50s by the Irwin family, the wealthy patrons of Columbus, to build striking futuristic buildings there. That's how he discovered the U.S. interior. He had been a New Yorker since his family moved to the U.S. when he was a child. So it was the Irwins in Indiana who are the reason the arch is where it is.
@@brianarbenz1329 Just did a quick dive into this family (actually, the Irwin Miller family), and what a remarkable man J. Irwin was. Thanks for the prompt.
I'm from Germany. I knew that there was this arch in St. Louis, but I thought it was just an arch. I never thought that you could drive up there and see everything around it. Thanks for the video.😊
Growing up in Illinois and visiting the Gateway Arch several times, these many years later, I've never really understood its construction until this video and computer simulation. Thank you and Bravo!
My family, and I, have been to the Arch ever since June of 1971, when I had graduated from college with my RN degree. We took a 3 and 1/2 week tour from Rhode Island, across country, seeing every famous site that we could, and it was glorious! I've been back, to the Arch, several times with different members of my family. It is memorable!
I'm a Kiwi, very far away but always admired this structure! Fantastic video, I am a huge fan of Eero Saarinen and his designs... on my bucket list to visit one day. Well done Jared!
The part about the time capsule really made me emotional 😭 to build such a great feat of engineering but not be blinded by it and remember that, like everything on this earth, it will one day cease to exist... very poetic. these are real tears folks!
Awesome video! I’m glad to see you can still go out the ramps by the arch legs, which used to be the only entrance to the museum. One of the amazing things about visiting the Gateway Arch, at least when I last did and when I was a child, was that you can walk right up to the leg and look at it. And if they still let you, you can even touch it. It’s pretty amazing to look up along the side of the leg. If you look from the outside it looks like the arch is just a flat piece of steel because you can’t see the other two sides of the triangles. It’s an amazing and historic structure, and an engineering marvel.
Be careful to touch it down low on a sunny day; I'm tall and managed to put my hand on it well above the layers of hand grease and it was hot, unsurprisingly. Still a marvel of engineering nonetheless!
I’m English. I live in London. I’d never heard of this arch, and never had a reason to consider visiting St. Louis. This video has given me a reason. Thank you for the excellent video, Jared.
@@PackersFAN780 St. Louis isn’t perfect, but I wouldn’t advise someone against visiting because it’s “very dangerous”. Obviously any big city has its issue but by and large you’ll be fine. There’s lots to see and do, and enough that I think it could warrant a nice weekend trip. See the arch, visit the Zoo (it’s the best free zoo in the country and rivals some of the top paid zoos) also check out the City Museum which is unlike any museum you’ve ever been too, guaranteed!
@@PackersFAN780 Well, if you compare murder, crime, robbery, mugging stats, it's no contest, Chicago greatly outnumbers St. Louis. You're just looking for eyeballs for your football videos which you copy from the internet.
My son and I were there about 2 weeks ago. We enjoyed the Arch trip, but I was worried about crime. Happy to say we experienced no major incidents, but as with everywhere, do your research and keep aware. And try the Archway Root beer!
Your video not only introduced me to the Gateway Arch, which I had never seen before, but also explained the ingenuity of its construction and operation. Thank you very much Jared!
When I was a kid, I always loved the arch, several years ago I learned that my great great uncle was one of the welders that worked on the arch and the old busch stadium (His name was Issac)
I was going to college at Washington University and I watched the arch go up. During my senior year I could see it from my dorm window. I graduated in 1967. I did not take the ride to the top until 40 years later at our 40th reunion.
Toured the arch summer 1972. Beautiful accomplishment of design and construction. Enjoyed immensely along with other St Louis attractions. Clydesdale horses are worthy.
It's unfortunate that the observation deck is not wheelchair accessible, but that's why they put so much effort into letting you see what it's like up there from inside the museum. I hope someday they are able to retrofit the observation deck to make it more accessible. It wouldn't be easy, but it's definitely possible.
You missed a tiny detail about the tram, (although it is shown from afar in the video) it has windows on the doors. There is also a life size model in the old courthouse.
In the early 1980s, I was taking a Greyhound bus trip from Tennessee to Iowa. I had to change buses in St. Louis, and had a 3 hour wait for the connecting bus. At that time, the Greyhound bus station was only 4-5 blocks from the Arch. Absolute perfect time to visit! There weren’t all the amenities then as there are now, but it was wonderful to see and experience. Not being a fan of Ferris wheels, I was apprehensive about the tram ride, but it was very pleasant. There weren’t as many visitors in those days, and we were allowed to stay at the top as long as we wanted. It is still a great memory, and I am grateful for the bus connection issue! If you’re passing through St. Louis, take a little time to visit the Gateway Arch. You will enjoy it.
Remember visiting the arch as a kid. It was cool to stand at the base at a corner and stare up as the perspective made you realize how impressive the arch is.
Jared, by far this video is the best you have done. The STL Arch is an engineering marvel, you certainly conveyed that. The Arch, also being a National Park is a must visit for sure when in STL.
I’ve visited StL numerous times and gazed upon the Arch with wonder, even as an adult (after all, aren’t we all just big kids??). Your in-depth animated tutorial offered much more than I already knew, Jared… and that’s why I return over and over to see what you’ve cooked up for us “curious” humans! Thank you again!
Oh wow I’ve honestly always wondered about this [the tram specifically] but never bothered to investigate. And now this video is rec’d to me. Thanks for finally shedding some light on the engineering mystery for me!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you. You have answered a question I’ve had for 60 years. Before the keystone piece was raised, children in all elementary grades in St. Louis were asked to sign their name on a register to be placed in a time capsule at the top of the arch. I was too young to understand what that actually meant, but I have always wondered what happened to them, and if they are still there. Now I know. I do have pictures of the capsules at the top of the arch with the captions “time capsule” with no explanation. Thank you very, very much.
@@JaredOwen I have been to the top of the Arch at least 5 times and watched documentaries about it and don't ever recall hearing anything about it. I have not visited since the recent renovation and this video has inspired me to go back to the Arch as soon as I can. It's bittersweet to see the modern updates as I always remember going down what is now the leg exists to start the journey to the top.
I went here and went up to the top back when I was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood in ‘97. Us soldiers went on a “field trip” here. It was pretty cool, but scary at the top.
I’m loving it so far! I have a great love for the Gateway Arch, and like to learn anything about it that I can. 4:54 small correction: the segments that were too large to ship in one piece were shipped in three sort of L-shaped pieces. That way, the field joints were 1/3 of the way down a side panel, not the corner. The more complicated corner joints were done at the factory.
I was able to visit during college and was so impressed. It’s hard to truly appreciate the beauty and ingenuity unless you see it in person. I was caught off guard how scary it was being at the top. You don’t think about it because you are inside and the whole time without windows but once you get up there and look out and down you quickly realize how high you really are. Great experience!
This is incredible. Thank you for all of the hard work you put into your animations. I loved all of the little facts along the way, too. I didn't know so much work went into the engineering logistics of such a structure. I have a new-found appreciation for the Arch now.
Amazing video! I had no clue how this structure was built, now I know! A Blender user myself, I have been watching your videos for years and I admire the level of refinement of your animations. Keep it coming!
I toured the Arch in 2009. They replace the cables for the trams periodically. You could buy portions of older cables in the gift shop. Mine is shaped like a mini-arch. Definitely something anyone who is not claustrophobic should consider.
@@JaredOwen In the 70's, after 10 years of haggling, the US congress had a bill on the president's desk to sign to transition the USA to the metric system over a 5 year period. Jimmy Carter tore it up!
@@JaredOwen You're welcome! Also, I was honestly just curious how much time you spent on that just for it to be a background, but actually, making that a video would be cool, albeit it would probably be a better idea to just have it be "baseball stadiums" overall
Wow.. I've never really cared about the gateway arch and have driven past it many times. I was hooked from the beginning and intrigued throughout the entire video. I believe the next time my family and I drive by the arch, we will be stopping and riding the tram. Amazing video!
Side note about Catenary Arches: Antonio Gaudi made heavy use of these in his architectural projects. You can find many examples of this in Barcelona, Spain.
Been to the top of the Gateway Arch several times. This is a very accurate description! Definitely watch the making-of movie. Amazing engineering! And fun fact... when going to the top, the cars actually start to tilt several degrees before "clicking" back to level. It does this many times. I believe the orientation of the cars are "locked" to the track system until a tilt sensor (or mechanical system) trips and re-levels the cars individually.
I love the spread of topics you cover. I would have never looked up half the things you have explained to me by now. Many things are simply not in my immediate interests. But your videos are just so engaging and easy to follow. I think I have seen every one since I have found your chanale a few years back. Love your content. Keep up the incredible work!!
In 1969 I took a Greyhound bus ride from Portland, OR, to Washington, D.C. I wanted to see how lightweight the metal of the Arch was. I went up to it and slapped it. Needless to say, it was solid. I was only there a few minutes, so never knew you could go up into it. Maybe next time. Following President Jefferson’s directive, the Lewis and Clark Expedition left from St. Louis in 1804. By 1805 it got to Portland, Or. in 1905 there was a big centennial celebration in Portland. On a personal note, for the occasion there were picture albums made of leather pages. In 1975 I found one at a garage sale. Apparently someone had bought it in 1905 as a young person. Maybe in their 90’s they died, and it was put up for sale, which is when I came along and bought it. So, that was a side result of Jefferson’s sending out Lewis and Clark.🤗😮🙄
Easily the most underrated/under-appreciated structure in America! The surrounding land is so FLAT, on a sunny day you can see it from FAR FAR away glistening in the sun...truly an unforgettable sight!
Fun fact, the arch was built by a construction company named Pitt Des Moines which was later bought out by Chicago Bridge & Iron in the early 2000's. I worked for CBI for 30 years. Both companies have built some fantastic, historic structures since the late 1800's. While PDM is no longer a working entity, CBI still build steel plate structures to this day. Think storage tanks of all types including nuclear, hydrogen, oxygen, LNG, water and many more. Great video.
In 1984 my Fathe, older brother, younger brother and I went to the top of the Arch for a day trip. My wife and four kids were driving through St Luis in 2010. We drove to the Arch but it was after 5pm so they were closed. We actually met an old co worker and her husband from Louisiana under the Arch. Small world. So instead we took the kids to the BigFoot monster Truck home office in Saint Louis instead. That was a must see for my Sons. They were still open and not far from the Arch off the freeway. We thought we'd make it back to the Arch one day but it never happened. I'm to old n broken from being a Firefighter/EMT to travel anymore. Hopefully, my children will make that pilgrimage up in to the Arch with their children one day. *It's a great Bucket List Item.* The Arch has good memories for my family. Thank you for the video. Liked and Subscribed 👍🏻
@@basic6735 ether you didn't get it and got triggered. Or i didn't get the phrase"james bond would lmao". I want to say a name in a way which sounds like an announcement! And the last name came before the full name. And then comment on it!! What you want to convey??!
@@user-tr4oz9cj6p It's just he has a rather unfortunate name, and hearing it presented formally in the same way a professional secret agent would is just a funny juxtaposition to me
I visited this in 1987. I flew out to see the Cardinals play the Buccaneers(Cards won 31-28 in what is still the largest 4th quarter comeback in NFL history). Me and my then girlfriend went up, twice. This guy isn't kidding when he said those cars can be a bit claustrophobic. In this video you can see the hotel I stayed in. At the time it was the Clarion and it's the round building in the shots. Thanks for posting this. Me and my daughter watched together and even she was fascinated.
This is really cool! I got to go inside the Gateway Arch once around 18 years ago. It was kind of cramped and maybe even claustrophobic, especially in the elevator.
awesome. Ive saw the arch before traveling through ST Louis to Illinois. I had no idea you could go inside. Ill remember that if im ever back that way again.
