The monument opened to the public on June 10, 1967. Construction began on February 12, 1963, and was completed on October 28, 1965. The price tag was $13 million.
The Arch is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, at the site of St. Louis's founding . It reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century and to the pioneers who helped shape its history.