

Other things to see are a stagecoach from the time, a covered wagon, a replica of a cabin from the period, and more.Īfter walking through the museum, we stopped in at the gift shop before leaving. He especially loved the one that was similar to the Oregon Trail game. There were several interactive touch-screen games that our 9-year-old enjoyed. Louis-style pizzaĪfter lunch, we walked through the whole Gateway to the West Museum, learning about the arch itself as well as the U.S.

The Old Spaghetti Factory for Italian food.Chili Mac’s Diner for classic diner food.Salt + Smoke is another barbeque option.

Here are several dining options for you! Restaurants Near Gateway Arch Louis, it might be worth it to check out some other restaurants near Gateway Arch National Park. If you’re planning to spend more time in St. Once down, we had lunch at the Arch Café. Exploring more of the Gateway Arch National Park Make sure you get all the photos and views you want right away because you only get to spend less than 10 minutes at the top of the arch before getting back on a tram to go down. On a clear day, you can see up to 30 miles on each side.
#ST LOUIS ARCH INSIDE WINDOWS#
Once at the top, there are 16 windows looking out on each side over the river and the city. It’s a 4-minute ride to the top of the arch, going 3 mph. The trams do have windows, which look out on the stairs that maintenance and emergency crews use. There is a Gateway Arch tram car replica sitting out in the lobby that you can test out beforehand if you think you might have an issue with claustrophobia. The trams are pretty small, each with 5 seats. Your party will be given a number that tells you which tram you will be going up in. When our time came, we got in line for the tram elevator. The Gateway Arch Inside – a Ride to the Top Inside, we got our Gateway Arch tickets to go to the top for 12:30pm. After walking through the metal detector, you will get all your things back. It was a quick walk through security, where you are told to remove bags, belts, electronics, and empty pockets. Luckily, it wasn’t busy at all on the day we were visiting. To enter the arch, you have to go through the west entrance, which faces the Old Courthouse. This is off of Leonor K Sullivan Blvd.įrom here, you walk straight up toward the arch, up a big set of stairs, also known as “the grand staircase”. We parked down along the river on the old cobblestone levee parking lot in front of the riverboat cruises. There are several different areas to park, depending on which direction you are arriving from. Read Also: The Ultimate Guide to National Parks for Families Our day at the St.

The smallest National Park, it consists of the arch itself, a museum underneath, the Old Courthouse (where the Dred Scott case was heard), and a riverfront park. The Gateway Arch was originally called the “Jefferson National Expansion Memorial”, until 2018 when it became an official National Park, as opposed to a National Monument. Construction began in 1963, and the arch wasn’t completed until 1965 (unfortunately, after Eero Saarinen’s death.) The building of the arch was considered an engineering feat. The “Gateway Arch” represents the “Gateway to the West” during the United States’ expansion westward. In 1947, there was a nationwide contest to design a monument to represent Thomas Jefferson’s vision of the United States expansion westward.įinnish-American architect Eero Saarinen won that contest with his design of a 630-foot stainless steel arch. Louis, sitting along the Mississippi River. Louis Gateway Arch National Park is in downtown St. Over the weekend, we took our kids to the Gateway Arch National Park to see what it’s like to be 630 feet up in the air! Multiple exposure photo of kids under the St. Way back before it was given National Park status. Louis Gateway Arch National ParkĪs a kid, I grew up going to the St.
