Tyler and Vito Comporato, Ironworker

Who would you like to be for Biography Day at school?  Although it’s a good one, for many 4th graders, Eero Saarinen isn’t one of the most popular answers to that question.  However, for one 4th grader, that was an obvious answer and he chose Eero Saarinen because he has had some personal experiences with his work and with those who took Saarinen’s design and made it a reality.  Tyler doesn’t live in St. Louis, Missouri…but he and his family have made the 200 mile trip several times.  Why?  Because he has made a real connection with the Gateway Arch, a National Park Service historian, and several of the builders who worked on the Arch construction project. 

How did he make those connections?  Tyler’s family visited the Gateway Arch in the summer of 2006 and Tyler had many questions after experiencing the ride to the top of the Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and the grounds of the national park.  After they returned home, Tyler's mother said she could see his "wheels spinning" as the questions kept coming.  Tyler and his mother sent an email with some questions about the Gateway Arch to Jefferson National Parks Association, which hosts the Arch builders and workers each year to celebrate the completion of the construction of the Gateway Arch.  Those questions were quickly sent out to several of the builders accessible via email as well as the National Park Service historian at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Gateway Arch), Dr. Robert Moore. 

 

Dr. Moore answered questions like ‘Have any Presidents or actors visited the Arch?’, ‘Who owns the Arch?’, ‘What are some of the different jobs at the Arch?’….  And several of the builders and workers from different fields from ironworkers, engineers to the official photographer on the project answered questions like ‘Does the Arch ever need to be cleaned?’, Do birds ever fly into the Arch?’, and ‘How does the tram work?’. 

The connection between the public and their national parks and public lands is a real positive for both those asking questions and those answering the questions.  The park historian at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial receives hundreds of these type questions annually but he never tires of answering them.  Dr. Moore is happy that so many want to learn about their public lands and our country’s history.  The builders, although they aren’t in public service like the park historian, also enjoy the questions about their work and experience on the Gateway Arch construction project. 

 

The builders enjoyed Tyler’s questions so much they offered more information about the Arch project than Tyler had asked-from describing the different type of people who worked on the construction project to sending Tyler pictures from the construction project.   Tyler received information from the builders through Jefferson National Parks Association as well as directly and he was surprised but excited to receive all of the details.  He learned who these builders were, what they did, and what they remember about the project. 

 

Ironworker Ted ‘Lefty’ Imbierowicz wrote “Young Tyler has sure made me smile.  Just think of all the unique questions that fill uncluttered young minds.  Let me try to answer some of Tyler’s questions…”.  He went on to answer Tyler’s questions and to also tell him about the youngest person on the Arch construction project working for Pittsburgh Des Moines “Mallory was 19 at the time, he washed every section of the Arch”.   

Eldon Arteaga, the son of the official photographer for the Arch construction project, sent Tyler a package.  The package included a handwritten note with answers to some of Tyler’s questions as well as other memories Eldon has of being on the project with his Dad.  He also sent Tyler pictures that he and his Dad took on the project.  Tyler’s mother wrote to advise that the package had been received and shared some of Tyler’s reaction, “Tyler was so excited and he loved the handwritten letter and pictures!  He was especially impressed with the picture of Mr. Arteaga standing on top of the Arch with the rest of the workers!  That one was a big hit for Tyler!  He was simply in awe of it!”  

Tyler and his family have returned to the Arch two times since that first trip and after making the connections with the national park historian and the builders in 2006.  They come to visit the Gateway Arch during the Fall event for the Arch Anniversary when several of the builders return to the Arch and share their stories and memorabilia with visitors.  Tyler enjoys seeing his friends, those builders he knows and meeting new friends – the ones he hadn’t met on a previous visit.  In 2008 Tyler and his family joined a tour that Dr. Moore conducted on the Gateway Arch grounds.  It was a real treat for Tyler and his family to have the opportunity to meet Dr. Moore in person. 

 

Tyler’s mother says she is proud of her son, his curiosity in particular, and so excited to make connections through the national park to satisfy his curiosity.  She also says the positive experience continues for their family and something they talk about often.   They plan to come again and are also trying to coordinate a scout trip for one of their future visits to the Gateway Arch.  Even when they aren’t making a visit, Tyler’s experience with the national park, the historian, and the builders of the Arch influences him and is very much a part of his life. 

At home, Tyler has shared his experiences with his family, friends, teachers, and scouts as well as the city residents where he lives.  Tyler’s been featured in the local news where he shared pictures and was able to describe his meetings and interactions with the builders of the Gateway Arch. When Tyler talks about the national park he says, "the park is a cool symbol of our great country and that if someone tells you that something can't be done, that you should still try to succeed, because I remember that they told the Arch builders that they would never be able to build such a monument and...yes they did!"  

 

When Biography Day was scheduled at his school in May 2009 – he knew exactly who he wanted to be and the story he wanted to share in his biography.  He chose Eero Saarinen, and in a speech to the students and parents at school, he shared details of Saarinen’s incredible design for the Gateway Arch and how the builders made it a reality.  With his personal experiences and materials he’d gathered from his connections with the national park as well as some new research Tyler was able to ‘be’ an impressive Eero Saarinen.  His mother shared details about his Biography Day experience, “While other students chose some of the same historical figures, Tyler was thrilled that he was the only Eero.  He did a terrific job portraying Eero and he had so much fun! ” 

National parks and public lands provide a variety of benefits.  They not only help with student homework and school assignments but through personal experiences with our country’s history, culture, and natural beauty they promote life-long learning and the development of healthy lifestyles.  Take advantage of these benefits and engage with your national parks by visiting the parks and their websites.  Create and enjoy your own personal experiences in your national parks and public lands.  Just as Tyler did – you can satisfy your curiosity, you can make new friends, you can discover a ‘cool’ place, you can develop a great family conversation, and you can get some insight into how to succeed….even when others think you can’t.  To learn more about national parks you would like to visit or if you have questions about national parks visit nps.gov to begin your park experiences.

 

Tyler and Dr. Robert Moore, NPS historian