For Wednesday I’m writing my column on the 50th anniversary of a national monument, St. Louis’ Gateway Arch, with which I’m fairly familiar. Here are a few extra photos.

Above, the Arch is framed in an entranceway to the Old Courthouse. (I was exiting on my June visit, saw someone taking a photo and quickly took one myself.)

Below, a view from under the Arch, which is 630 feet high and the same span wide.

And, below, a family snapshot from 1968 of your young columnist on his first visit. My legs, like the Arch’s, are bare.

Have you ever been to the Arch? If so, leave a comment and tell us about it.