Gateway Arch National Park: A Soaring Stainless‑steel Monument in St. Louis
Gateway Arch National Park
“A soaring stainless‑steel monument in St. Louis, symbolizing America’s westward expansion and defining the city’s riverfront identity.”
Park Overview
Gateway Arch National Park—a compact national park in St. Louis, Missouri—features the iconic 630‑ft Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and the historic Old Courthouse. Originally established as a memorial, it was re-designated as a national park in 2018, becoming one of the newest in the U.S. park system.
Fast Facts
| Location | St. Louis, Missouri (Mississippi Riverfront) |
| Established as Park | February 22, 2018 (formerly memorial) |
| Area | ~91 acres total |
| Arch Height & Width | 630 ft tall and wide |
| Annual Visitors | ~1.16 million (2024) |
What to See & Do
- Ride to the Top of the Arch – Experience tram access and panoramic views from the observation deck inside the arch’s crown.
- Explore the Museum of Westward Expansion – Engage with exhibits on frontier history and the Corps of Discovery.
- Visit the Old Courthouse – Historic site of the Dred Scott cases and St. Louis civic history.
- Stroll the Riverfront Grounds – Beautifully landscaped spaces connecting the city and memorial grounds.
- Architecture & Engineering Tour – Learn about Eero Saarinen’s catenary arch design and construction feats. (See structural dimensions.)
Engineering & Design
Designed by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1965, the Gateway Arch is a stainless‑steel catenary-shaped structure and the tallest arch in the world. Its legs taper from equilateral triangles—54 ft per side at the base to 17 ft at the top—and gracefully withstand wind and thermal stresses.
Human History & Significance
The arch honors Thomas Jefferson’s role in westward expansion and marks the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It stands beside the Old Courthouse, which also reflects St. Louis’s legal and civic heritage—including the Dred Scott case. Preservation efforts included blocking I‑70 and redesigning the park landscape in 2018 to unify the downtown riverfront.