Jefferson National Expansion Memorial consists of the Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and the St.Louis Old Courthouse. With a total cost of nearly 15 million, the St.Louis Arch began construction in 1963 and was completed on October 28, 1965. The cool thing about the arch is it can withstand very strong winds and earthquakes if that ever happens.. There is a fault line nearby but there hasnt been a major earthquake since 1811. The arch is built to sway up to an inch with 20 mph winds and up to 18 inches total. The Museum of Westward Expansion, which is located underground below the arch, contains many artifacts, animal specimens, and an overview of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Located two blocks west of the arch, the Old Courthouse, built in 1839, is one of the oldest structures in St.Louis today. It was here that the first two trials of the pivotal Dred Scott case of 1847 and 1850. This site is also where the Virginia Minor's case for womens right to vote came to trial in the 1870s.