American Masters

Both teams were in the same building on other sides of a wall, working on this competition. And after the first stage, they sent a telegram to Mr. E. Saarinen. I had heard the story many times - the telegram came to the door. It said Saarinen won, so they rejoiced for three days that Eliel had won, but it was Eero Saarinen who won the competition, not Eliel Saarinen, so they celebrated again, but in actual fact, I think it was a big blow to Eliel - he had to admit that his son had beaten him - beaten him badly - but by a better design. The major concern here was to create a monument which would have lasting significance - a landmark of our time - an absolutely simple shape, such as the Egyptian pyramids, seemed to be the basis of the great memorials. The St. Louis Arch could be a triumphal arch for our ages, as the triumphal arches of classical antiquity were for theirs. The St. Louis Arch is one of the rare moments where an architectural competition yielded something truly daring and bold and important.