Gateway Arch National Park
Located: St. Louis - Established: February 22, 2018
The Park: Jefferson National Expansion Memorial became Gateway Arch National Park on Feb 22, 2018. The smallest park in the system, the Gateway Arch commemorates Thomas Jefferson’s vision and St. Louis’ role in the country’s westward expansion. Many people, including Terry and I questioned the validity of this site being worthy of major park status.
What? A manmade structure qualifies as a national park! Our understanding is that in order to qualify as a major National Park, the site must meet certain criteria: It must be a unique natural, cultural or recreational resource. It must be in need of protection. And no other organization other than the National Park Service would be able to adequately protect it.
As for being a "recreational resource," the Pod ride to the top of the Arch would seem to fall far short of that criterion! The manmade structure certainly isn't "natural!" Yet, the new Museum/Visitor Center completed in 2018 far exceeded our expectations and would qualify in our minds as being a very interesting, viable "cultural resource.”
In general, the park was originally created to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase and the subsequent expansion westward; the first civil government west of the Mississippi River; and the debate regarding slavery brought to light by the Dred Scott legal case.
When to Visit: The Gateway Arch is open year-round and is closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. During the high-season summer months, tickets for the Tram Ride and Tucker Theater sell out very quickly.
What to do: Besides taking in the visual enormity of the Arch, be sure to take the Tram Ride to the Top. There are 8 separate “pods” located on each side of the Arch, each of which holds 5 riders. The ride to the top takes about 4 minutes. Once you reach the Observation Deck, you’ll find 16 tiny windows on each side of the Arch.
The east facing windows provide you with a clear view of the Mississippi River. The west facing windows offer a view of the city of St. Louis, including the Old Courthouse, the Basilica of St. Louis Catholic Church and Busch Stadium.
After the Tram Ride, be sure to explore the Museum and its six themed exhibits. The galleries span the 201-year history of the area from 1764 to 1965 covering topics of Colonial St. Louis, Thomas Jefferson’s vision, Manifest Destiny, the Riverfront era, New Frontiers and the building of the Arch.
The Tucker Theater hosts a 35-minute documentary about the design and construction of the Arch. The Monument to a Dream features the design and construction of the 630-foot stainless steel structure.
The Old Courthouse at Gateway Arch is an architectural masterpiece featuring restored courtrooms where visitors experience the time and place where Dred and Harriet Scott sued for their freedom and Virginia Minor fought for women’s right to vote.
Arch Factoids: In 1948, Eero Saarinen, a Finnish-American Architect won the nationwide competition to design the arch. His son Eliel had also entered the competition and by mistake, was originally told he that he was the winner!
The Gateway Arch is the tallest human-built monument in the USA standing 630 feet tall and 630 feet from base to base.
The arch’s two legs were constructed simultaneously. If their measurements were off by as little as 1/64th of an inch, the two legs would not have been able to be connected at the top!
Although we met a couple of kids who swore the arch swayed "20 feet during the windstorm," it was designed to sway no more than 18 inches!
With ideal conditions, you would be able to see 30 miles from the Observation Deck.
The Arch cost $13 million to build. Construction began on February 12, 1963, and was finished on October 28, 1965. It opened for the public on June 9, 1967.
The Arch is a combination of a stainless steel outer skin, carbon steel skeleton on the inside and tons of concrete to hold it all in place.
Experience these Check List:
Take the Ride to the Top Tram
Walk the park grounds
Explore the Visitor Center and Museum
Tour the Old Courthouse
Take in the film Monument to a Dream at the Tucker Theater