Steel spotlighted in stamp series

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) announced today that one of steel's most legendary design achievements, The Gateway Arch, will be featured in the U.S. Postal Service stamp series, "Wonders of America: Land of Superlatives," beginning May 27. The steel arch is located in St. Louis, Mo. and is the tallest man-made monument in America, standing at 630-feet tall (63 stories).

According to the U.S. National Park Service, the arch is a result of a nationwide competition in 1947 to display a monument that captured the spirit of western pioneers. Architect Eero Saarinen's proposal of the 630-foot stainless steel arch won the contest, and his design later became the now world renowned Gateway Arch. It took two years and less than $15 million to construct the steel arch. Completed on October 18, 1965, the strong steel structure lays 60 feet into the ground, and is built to withstand earthquakes and high winds—its strength and resilience mirroring the American spirit.