Gateway Arch National Park
Gateway Arch National Park is a national park located in St. Louis, Missouri, near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
In its initial form as a national memorial, it was established in 1935 to commemorate:
- the Louisiana Purchase and subsequent westward movement of American explorers and pioneers
- the first civil government west of the Mississippi River
- the debate over slavery raised by the Dred Scott case.
The national park consists of the Gateway Arch, a steel catenary arch that has become the definitive icon of St. Louis; a park along the Mississippi River on the site of the earliest buildings of the city; the Old Courthouse, a former state and federal courthouse where the Dred Scott case originated; and the 140,000 sq ft museum at the Gateway Arch. It is the smallest national park in the United States at 192.83 acres, less than 2% the size of the next-smallest, Hot Springs National Park.
The immediate surroundings of the Gateway Arch were initially designated the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial by secretarial order on December 21, 1935. The Gateway Arch was completed on October 28, 1965. The park is maintained by the National Park Service.
The area surrounding the arch was redesignated as the Gateway Arch National Park in 2018.
The Gateway Arch, known as the “Gateway to the West,” is the tallest structure in Missouri. It was designed by the Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and the German-American structural engineer Hannskarl Bandel in 1947 and built between 1963 and October 1965. It stands 630 feet tall and 630 feet wide at its base. The legs are 54 feet wide at the base, narrowing to 17 feet at the arch. There is a unique tram system to carry passengers to the observation room at the top of the arch.
Underneath the arch is a visitor center, entered from a circular entryway facing the Old Courthouse. Within the center, a project to rebuild the Museum at the Gateway Arch was completed in July 2018. The new museum features exhibits on a variety of topics including westward expansion and the construction of the Arch, all told through a St. Louis lens. Tucker Theater, finished in 1968 and renovated 30 years later, has about 285 seats and shows a documentary (Monument to the Dream) on the arch’s construction. A second theater was added in 1993 but removed in 2018 as part of the CityArchRiver renovation project. Also located in the visitor center are a gift shop and cafe.
Where it is:
Gateway Arch National Park is located in the heart of downtown St. Louis on the Mississippi River. Interstate Routes 44, 55, 64 and 70 converge near the park.
From Missouri Interstates:
Interstate 44 East/55 North: Take Exit 292 for Lumiere Place Blvd./Washington Ave./Eads Bridge then take the u-turn from the left lane to access Pine Street and downtown.
Interstate 64 East: Take Exit 40 for Last Missouri Exit. Turn left onto Gratiot, then left onto Fourth Street. Continue north on Fourth Street to access downtown.
Interstate 70 East: Take Exit 249B for Tucker Blvd. Turn left onto Market Street to access downtown.
From Illinois Interstates:
Poplar Street Bridge: (55 South/64 West): After crossing the bridge, continue on 64/40 West and take Exit 40A for Stadium/Tucker Blvd. Continue straight off the exit then turn right on Walnut Street to access downtown.
Martin Luther King Bridge: After crossing the bridge, turn left under the interstate onto Carr Street followed by an immediate left onto Broadway to access downtown.
Eads Bridge: After crossing the bridge, continue straight on Washington Avenue to access downtown.
Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge: After crossing the bridge, take the left exit for North Tucker Blvd. Turn left on Market Street to access downtown.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
Cost:
If you wish to browse in the Museum and Visitor Center, there is no entrance fee.
Prices vary by date of visit.
Adult (16 and up): Starting at $15 Child (3-15): Starting at $11 Infant (2 and under): FREE Park Pass Holder: Starting at $12 Tickets available at www.gatewayarch.com
Security Note
All visitors to the Gateway Arch visitor center pass through an airport style security checkpoint. No weapons — including firearms, pepper spray, mace, or electronic weapons — are allowed. If you have pre-purchased your tram ticket, please plan to arrive prior to your tram time.
Links:
GPS:
38°37’27.0492″ N 90°11’5.9677″ W
Hours:
The Gateway Arch Visitor Center/Museum is open from 9:00am – 6:00pm every day during the fall and winter. During the summer (Memorial Day – Labor Day) we are open until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays.*
The Arch Store closes about 15 minutes before the museum closes.
The Arch Cafe is open from 9 to 4 during regular hours and 9 to 6 during extended hours.
The park grounds are open from 5:00am –11:00pm year round.
* Last tram leaves one hour prior to closing
Gateway Arch National Park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
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More Photographic Destinations in Missouri
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
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Great Places for Great Photos
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