Inspiration for Trump’s arch was sparked long before the design was first approved

An image from Harrison Design, the studio involved in the 250-foot-tall arch project, shows what the arch could look like at night, framing Robert E. Lee

The design process for new memorials shouldn’t be fast-tracked or dictated by a select few, experts say. But a small group of people close to President Trump played an outsized role in the arch’s quick approvals.

(Image credit: Harrison Design)