This Mediterranean Revival style monument, typical of the pre-Depression Florida Boom, was designed by Nat C. Hodgdon of Pfeiffer and O'Reilly Architects, constructed by A. L. Doenges, and completed on February 20, 1926. It was built to celebrate the creation of Martin County with Stuart as the county seat. The gateway greeted southbound travelers on the Montreal to Miami Dixie Highway, formerly A1A, with the bronze-lettered caption, "Stuart - Atlantic Gateway to the Gulf of Mexico," referring to the cross-state canal connecting Martin County to Florida’s west coast through Lake Okeechobee. Its design and construction were funded through a Stuart Chamber of Commerce campaign organized by prominent leaders and supported by citizens of the City of Stuart and Jensen Beach. Continuous repair resulting from theft during the Depression, hurricane damage, natural deterioration, and vehicular accidents reflects its significance in both the local and countywide communities. It is currently known as the Rio-Jensen Arch, and its restoration is a goal in the Rio Community Redevelopment Plan adopted by Martin County in April, 2001.