National Archives Presents 9th Annual Guggenheim Center Tribute September 15
Press Release · Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Washington, DC

Screening and discussion will focus on the past, present, and future of the St. Louis Arch using the 1967 Academy Award®–nominated film “Monument to the Dream”

On Tuesday, September 15, at 7 p.m., The Guggenheim Center for Documentary Film at the National Archives will present a special program and screening of the late Charles Guggenheim’s 1967 Academy Award®–nominated film, “Monument to the Dream,” the story of construction of the St. Louis Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO, America's tallest national monument. The Honorable James W. Symington, former U.S. Congressman (D-MO), will make opening remarks, and a panel discussion will follow the screening. This event is supported by the National Archives Foundation with funding from an anonymous donor, the William G. McGowan Fund, and donors to the Guggenheim Center for Documentary Film at the National Archives.

This event, the annual Guggenheim Center Tribute Program, is free and open to the public and will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C. While all public programs at the National Archives are free, reservations are recommended; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The doors to the building will open 45 minutes prior to the start of the program. Attendees should use the Special Events entrance at Constitution Avenue and 7 ^th Street, NW.

Following the screening, Mary Delach Leonard, reporter for St. Louis Public Radio, will moderate a panel including Dr. Tracy Campbell, author of The Gateway Arch: A Biography and Maggie Hales, Executive Director of the St. Louis CityArchRiver 2015 Foundation. The panel will discuss the story of the Arch: from early design concepts, the approved, iconic design by master Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, the epic construction, the National Park Service site creation, and the current plans to redevelop the cityscape along the banks of the Mississippi River.

Monument to the Dream (28 minutes) chronicles the construction of the St. Louis Gateway Arch from conception to its completion on October 28, 1965. The film was recently restored by the National Park Service and Guggenheim Productions, Inc. using 2k digital technology and remixed in stereo 5.1 surround sound. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Arch stands today as the tallest national monument in the Western Hemisphere and one of the 20th Century’s greatest civil engineering achievements.

To verify the date and times of the programs, the public should call the Public Programs Line at: (202) 357-5000, or view the Calendar of Events online. The National Archives is fully accessible. To contact the National Archives, please call 202-357-5000 or 1-86-NARA-NARA (TDD) 301-837-0482. National Archives Museum Exhibit Hours are 10 a.m.—5:30 p.m.

The Guggenheim Center for Documentary Film at the National Archives was established in 2004 in honor of the four-time Oscar®- winner and past president of the Foundation for the National Archives. The Center’s mission is to advance public understanding of the process, challenges, and social impact of documentary filmmaking and to promote the education of young people and professionals. The Center is both a living legacy of an internationally acclaimed producer and director and an extension of America's premier resource for documentary film research.

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent Federal agency that preserves and shares with the public records that trace the story of our nation, government, and the American people. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries, and online at www.archives.gov.

The National Archives Foundation is an independent nonprofit that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage, and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The Foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records to people around the U.S. and the world. Online a www.archivesfoundation.org

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For press information contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

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