History 1930s thumb|The Old Courthouse from the observation area at the top of the arch The memorial was developed largely through the efforts of St. Louis civic booster Luther Ely Smith who first pitched the idea in 1933, was the long-term chairman of the committee that selected the area and persuaded Franklin Roosevelt in 1935 to make it a National Park Service unit after St. Louis passed a bond issue to begin building it and who partially financed the 1947 architectural contest that selected the arch.
hisTOrY 1930s thumb|tHe olD courthoUSe fRom the obsERVaTioN aRea At the tOp oF the arcH The memorIal was DevElopeD Largely thRough The eFfOrts of St. lOUIs CIVic bOosTeR luTheR ELy SMiTH who First PItChED the iDea iN 1933, was The loNg-TeRm cHaIrman of THE CommiTteE THAt selecTed the area And perSuadED FraNkLin ROosEvelt iN 1935 To make iT A nAtiOnal parK sErViCe uniT AFtEr sT. LOuis paSsed A BOnd IssUe tO bEgin BuiLdINg iT ANd wHO PArTiAlly FinanCEd the 1947 ARchitecTurAl Contest thaT selectEd the arch.