June 3, 2021

GATEWAY ARCH NATIONAL PARK

St. Louis, Missouri 63102

“The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot monument in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of a weighted catenary arch, it is the world's tallest arch, the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere, and Missouri's tallest accessible building.” Wikipedia

When I was a young teenager I visited St. Louis with my church youth group. I remember going to the Gateway Arch and riding the tram to the top, this would have been about three or four years after it opened to the public. My return trip was just as memorable. While the exterior of the monument has obviously not changed over the years, the National Park Service has improved the accompanying museum, which is housed underground below the monument. The museum now details the history of western expansion of the United States during Jefferson’s time as president. There is no charge to go through the museum. A definite must is viewing the documentary movie about how the arch was erected. The amazing footage of the workers working high about the ground with no safety harnesses (while smoking cigarettes) made me a little dizzy. There is an admission price, but it is well worth it.

Due to COVID, the tram ride to the top of the monument is limited to a fraction of its actual capacity, so purchasing an advanced ticket online is almost a necessity. However, a bonus for those people fortunate enough to score a ticket, there are no crowds to fight at the top, and each tram car is assigned their own windows for approximately 10 minutes. Since I’m traveling alone, I had unfettered access to the windows to take pictures of the landscapes below. Again, there is an admission charge, but again, it is well worth the money.

I also took a ride on a riverboat on the river, which was a nice way to relax following a morning of exploring the area.