Reply #56: The engineering alone used to construct the Arch makes it impressive in my book

[Mike Daniels]

I made my first visit just a few weeks ago and the thing is incredible from an architectural/engineering POV. What's even more amazing is that not one person died while constructing it.

For years, I had heard my wife talk about the "egg" that takes you to the top. When I asked what she meant by the "egg" she explained the little elevator system and how it ratched up sidewise to get to the top. I think I said something about her being "high" and that she had to be leaving something out.

Well, I found out that she wasn't that far off. You can definitely tell that the thing was built during the 60's. All I could think of as I rode up in that egg-shaped little capsule its white interior and curvy little seats was "Man, if they piped in some lounge music or Sinatra and served drinks in this thing this would be perfect".

That said, I found the view to be slightly disappointing. St. Louis just doesn't have much of a skyline, the side across the river is kind of bland and the spacing/size of the windows just doesn't allow you to get the grand view.