Anyone who visits St. Louis should set aside at least a half-day to visit the Gateway Arch. This 630-foot-tall monument is on the edge of the Mississippi River, clad in stainless steel and shaped as a weighted catenary arch.
It is the world’s tallest arch, and you can go up to the top. Some sources consider it the tallest human-made monument in the Western Hemisphere.
Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States and dedicated to the American people, the Arch is commonly referred to as “The Gateway to the West.” It is a National Historic Landmark in Gateway Arch National Park.
The Arch was designed by the Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in 1947, and construction began on February 12, 1963. It was completed in ,1965.
The monument opened on June 10, 1967 and is located at the 1764 site of the founding of St. Louis on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
There are several things to do at the National Park. The have-to-do is going to the top of the arch on inventive cars that transport guests up one side of the arch. When you reach the top. There is a rope-like divider, so guests must stay on the side from which their transportation car arrived.
Small windows offer a view of the Mississippi and St. Louis.
The Museum Under the Gateway Arch is an excellent way to understand 201 years of history about the westward expansion of the United States with an emphasis on St. Louis’ paramount role in that era.
The time period stretches from the founding of St. Louis in 1764 to the building of the Gateway Arch. The museum presents the period of westward expansion in the United States with a broader range of perspectives from the cultures involved.
Additional experiences include a riverboat cruise, a documentary film, the National Park grounds, and NPS Ranger-led programming.
For more information about the National Park and everything it offers, click here.
For information on other atttractions, accomodations, and restaurants, click here.
Never visit this beautiful city without going to the Gateway Arch National Park!
