Question: Has the gateway arch changed from its original purpose to its modern role as a tourism symbol?
The main argument is that the arch is not only a symbol of tourism and expansion but a symbol of historical events that have been minimized over time.
0bservation, background, context: Here you might talk about what drew your attention to this topic, what struck you as interesting about it, and/or any important context for the topic.
I have lived in the STL area my whole life and never asked the question of what is the purpose of the arch and its significance to the city of STL. What drew my attention to the topic was while looking around the stl area, I found an article that said the arch was originally made for Thomas Jefferson and his vison of STL after the purchase of Louisiana and was made to be a memorial center to honor his expansion of the south. This is something I never knew and it was interesting because i just thought of it as a monument and nothing more. so the history interested me.
Problem: What problem or question arises from your observation?
The problem is that the Arch does not get the recognition that it deserves I believe that Most tourist think of it as the Gateway and don’t give it a second look. The problem is that there is not enough awareness when it comes to the history of STL and the meaning behind structures of the past. The question is how can we bring awareness and let the public know the significance and the history of STL’s greatest stopping point.
Frame: How are you approaching that problem? What’s your point of view?
My Goal is to bring awareness to the history of the arch and the overall topic and find a way to expand the reach of its significance and return it to the old name of Jefferson national expansion memorial. Also to honor the idea of innovation because the arch was built in 1965 which is a historical moment to create an arch this big and still have it standing tall all these years later.
Example sources: Provide citations for one primary source (something that is direct evidence for the question you’re asking) and one secondary source (something that uses direct evidence to make an argument) that relate to your research question.
https://www.nps.gov/jeff/learn/news/gateway-arch-national-park-purpose-and-significance.htm
“A nationwide competition was held in 1947-48 to determine what could be built on that 40-block footprint to honor Thomas Jefferson, his Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark, pioneers, Tribes of the great plains, and everyone else involved in the story of westward expansion. Architect Eero Saarinen’s stainless steel arch was chosen. Groundbreaking for the Gateway Arch occurred in June 1959, and the structure was completed in October 1965. ” This is the history that is forgotten about and can be used to bring awareness to the meaning of the arch.
https://www.nps.gov/jeff/learn/historyculture/native-peoples-continued.htm
“Shawnee & Delaware Kickapoo Sac & Fox Osage Kansa Oto”
the second goal would be to refrain the native and speak on the forgotten history of the land and practice in Stl. One way would be to speak on the native groups that were there before us.
Proposed technology: What tool or method do you intend to use in your project? This could be an interactive time line going over the history such as the indigenous land- Louisiana purchase- city planning and arch construction.
The main argument is that the arch is not only a symbol of tourism and expansion but a symbol of historical events that have been minimized over time.