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St. Louis' Gateway Arch Placed On List Of Endangered Monuments

Daniel Schwen
/
Creative Commons

St. Louis' identifying landmark, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (aka The Gateway Arch), has been included on the World Monuments Fund's 2014 Watch List for at-risk monuments.

The Arch's issues with corrosion have been known for some time and the Arch is still structurally sound. However, WMF says it's not just corrosion that landed the Arch on their list:

...As is the case with many important examples of modern architecture, the preservation of twentieth-century materials and structural designs has proven challenging. The unusual shape and extreme height of the Arch compound these difficulties, as do economic trends that have led to decreased government funding for the stewardship of national monuments. The complexity of preserving both the structural integrity and aesthetic qualities of the Arch compels cooperation between the public and private sectors to ensure that adequate expertise and resources are brought to bear in the preservation of this important landmark and national symbol.

In an interview with PBS' News Hour the WMF's Bonnie Burnham discussed the list and what it means for monuments to be included (discussion of the Arch at the 5:00 mark):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auKt16h1ISI

The 2014 list includes 5 monuments in the United States:

Kelsey Proud is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where she earned a Convergence (Multimedia) Journalism degree. She has worked at PBS Interactive in Washington, D.C., MSN UK News in London and is a social media enthusiast. Kelsey feels journalism is truly a public service and hopes her work enhances community and reaches those who need information most. Though she's "from" Chicago, Kelsey has also lived in several different regions of the United States, including periods of time in North Carolina, Ohio, New Mexico and Illinois. Her extended family has roots in Boone and Audrain counties in Missouri, too. She is a wannabe chef and globe trekker, former competitive golfer and band-ie (trumpet), and honorary Missourian.
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