Gateway Arch

Overview

Gateway Arch National Park in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, is the smallest national park by area — just 91 acres — but it contains the tallest man-made monument in the United States. The Gateway Arch, designed by architect Eero Saarinen and completed in 1965, soars 630 feet above the Mississippi River in a graceful catenary curve of stainless steel that symbolizes St. Louis's historic role as the Gateway to the West. The arch is as wide as it is tall, and its mirror-polished surface reflects the city on one side and the river on the other. A tram ride inside the hollow arch carries visitors to the observation deck at the top, where small windows offer views up to 30 miles in every direction — the Mississippi River, the Illinois bluffs to the east, and the St. Louis skyline to the west. The ride takes four minutes in capsule-like compartments that rotate to stay level as they ascend the curved legs. Below the arch, the Museum at the Gateway Arch tells the story of westward expansion, Lewis and Clark, Native American displacement, and the construction of the arch itself. The park grounds, recently redesigned to better connect the arch to the St. Louis downtown waterfront, include walking paths, green spaces, and the Old Courthouse where the Dred Scott case was first tried. The park is an easy half-day visit and pairs well with exploring St. Louis's other attractions.

Things to Do

• Ride the tram to the top of the Gateway Arch
• Visit the Museum at the Gateway Arch
• Walk the grounds along the Mississippi River
• Tour the Old Courthouse (Dred Scott trial)
• Take a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi
• Photograph the arch from Laclede's Landing
• Watch the documentary film in the visitor center

Wildlife

Keep an eye out for these animals during your visit:

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Hot, humid summers with highs in the 90s. Cold winters with occasional ice storms. Spring and fall are pleasant with temperatures in the 60-80°F range. The arch and museum are climate-controlled.