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Gateway Arch /
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

AKA: The Arch

DESCRIPTION: The Gateway Arch, one of the newest monuments in the National Park system -- and its tallest -- is a 630-foot catenary Arch made of stainless steel. The Arch is 75 feet taller than the Washington Monument and more than twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty. There are a Museum, two movie theatres and exhibits underneath the Arch, and also a tram system in each leg which delivers visitors to the top for stunning views of the city. The Arch and the nearby Old Courthouse make up the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

ADDRESS: The Gateway Arch, St. Louis Riverfront, St. Louis, MO 63102

LOCATION: St. Louis Riverfront, downtown

PHONE: 877-982-1410

GETTING THERE: In downtown St. Louis, take Memorial Drive to Washington Avenue, turn east on Washington. Turn right into the Arch parking garage.

METROLINK: Take MetroLink light rail to the Laclede's Landing station and follow the signs south to the Arch - about a five-minute walk.

HOURS: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., daily, Labor Day to Memorial Day. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day

SUMMER HOURS: 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day

ADMISSION: Admission to the Museum of Westward Expansion underneath the Arch is free. There are three "events" at the Arch with admission fees -- "Journey to the Top," the tram ride to the top of the Arch; the Odyssey Theatre big-screen movies and "Monument to the Dream," a documentary film about the building of the Arch. For adults, tram ride admission is $10.00 and $7.00 for a movie. For youth ages 13-16 it’s $7.00 for a tram ride and $4.00 for a movie. For children 3-12, the price is $3.00 for a tram ride and $2.50 for a movie. Tickets also can be purchased on line at www.gatewayarch.com. There is a $3 service charge per online transaction.

ANNUAL ATTENDANCE: 4.1 million.

SIGNIFICANCE: The Gateway Arch commemorates the Louisiana Purchase and the westward expansion of the United States. It also symbolizes St. Louis' role as the Gateway to the West.

WHAT’S NEW: A special exhibit about Lewis & Clark’s experiences in St. Louis in preparation for their monumental journey opened for the Lewis & Clark bicentennial commemorations and runs through 2005. A grand staircase leading from the Arch to the Mississippi riverfront was added in 2003. The stairway, part of the original vision of Arch designer Eero Saarinen, provides both access to the river but, more importantly, serves as seating for special events and activities that are held on St. Louis’ riverfront. Also, a new system of 44 powerful exterior floodlights now illuminate the Arch each evening. Discovery Days, held the second Saturday of each month, provides fun hands-on activities for families to learn about various aspects of the Lewis & Clark expedition. The giant-screen film, Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West will be shown at the Odyssey Theatre from May 31, 2004 through 2006.

HISTORY: In 1935 the St. Louis riverfront was selected as the site for construction of a monument to commemorate the westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century. An area of 40 city blocks was purchased and all buildings were cleared, but because of World War II, progress on the Memorial was halted.

In 1947 the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Association, a group of public-spirited citizens, held a nationwide competition to obtain an appropriate design for the Memorial. The winner in the competition was architect Eero Saarinen whose idea of a giant stainless steel arch in the shape of an inverted catenary curve is a complex engineering feat. In 1963, construction began on The Arch and was completed in 1965.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• A 40-passenger tram system of eight five-passenger capsules in each leg takes visitors on a four-minute trip to the top. Plate-glass windows at the top provide views that on a good day can stretch 30 miles to the east and 30 miles to the west.
• The Museum of Westward Expansion beneath the Arch tells the story of the opening of the American West. Costumed interpreters often make history come to life through programs they present in the Museum.
• Giant screen films are shown in the Odyssey Theatre. Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West, the recreated epic story of adventure and survival of a small band of explorers' incredible 8,000-mile odyssey through dangerous, uncharted territory, is the featured film that runs from May 31, 2004 through 2006.
• Monument to the Dream, a film that chronicles the construction of the Arch, is shown in another theatre under the Arch.
• Two new hands-on exhibits keep visitors busy while waiting to ride the tram to the top. When Riverboats Ruled at the north leg recreates St. Louis' Mississippi River levee in the mid-1800s. Visitors see steamboats unloading their cargo on cobblestones, explore the new Eads Bridge or have a conversation with Mark Twain. At the south leg, Fitting the Final Piece puts visitors on top of the monument in October 1965 as the last piece of the Arch is raised into place.

MERCANTILE LEVEE: Gateway Arch visitors can taste the past at the Levee Mercantile in the visitors center under the monument. The Mercantile is an 1870s-style riverfront general store stocked with food and merchandise shoppers would have found during that time period.

The store is the first of its kind in a National Park Service facility. Visitors can purchase historically inspired snacks and treats similar to foods eaten during the 1870s while interacting with costumed interpreters who impact a little history in the process.

In addition to food, the Mercantile carries wooden toys, cookbooks, readers and historic reproductions of house wares such as beeswax candles, tin bake ware, pottery and fabric by the yard. Many of the foods sold are produced in Missouri, including hand-twisted pretzels from Gus' Pretzels; breads and seasonal cakes from Companion Bakehouse, both in St. Louis and smoked and sliced snack meats from Bavarian Smoke House of New Melle, Missouri.

Costumed re-enactors including Civil War veterans reminiscing about the war or land speculators working for the railroad will stop by from time to time to enthrall visitors with vignettes that make history come alive.

Levee Mercantile is open daily, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. the rest of the year.

ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS: The highlight for most kids is the tram ride to the top of the Arch.

ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS: Special events are planned each year to commemorate African-American Heritage Month and Women's Heritage Month. The St. Louis Storytelling Festival is held at the Arch and at the Old Courthouse each May.

HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY: All areas of the facility are handicapped accessible except for the tram ride to the top of the Gateway Arch.

WHERE TO GET LUNCH: There are many restaurants in historic Laclede's Landing north of the Arch, at the ArchView Café at the boarding area of the Gateway Arch Riverboats and other restaurants downtown.

GIFT SHOP: The Museum Store has an extensive collection of items reflecting the early days of St. Louis and the westward expansion and an array of books and tapes about national parks. Levee Mercantile stocks unusual foodstuff, house wares, games and books that were familiar to the pioneers.

WHAT'S NEARBY: Other riverfront attractions include the Gateway Arch Riverboats Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher paddle wheelers that conduct hour long sightseeing cruises and two hour long dinner cruises on the Mississippi River; the President Casino, and the Casino Queen. Other downtown attractions, including Busch Stadium, the International Bowling Museum and St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame, the Edward Jones Dome, the Eugene Field House and St. Louis Toy Museum and the Old Courthouse are within walking distance.

WEB SITE: www.gatewayarch.com

Readers should call 1-800-916-0040 to request a free copy of the Official St. Louis Visitor Guide or point, click and explore St. Louis at www.explorestlouis.com