Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot stainless steel monument on the west bank of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, the tallest man-made monument in the United States and the tallest stainless steel structure in the world. Designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and completed in 1965, the arch symbolizes the westward expansion of the United States and commemorates St. Louis's role as the Gateway to the West — the embarkation point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804. The arch is part of the Gateway Arch National Park, the smallest national park by area and the only one within a major American city's downtown core. Inside each leg of the arch, a unique tram system — eight small rounded pods in each leg — carries visitors from the underground loading area to an observation room at the apex 630 feet above ground. The pods follow the curve of the arch's legs and hold five passengers each; the 4-minute ascent is a distinctly unusual transport experience. At the top, 16 small windows on each side offer views across the Mississippi River into Illinois and the St. Louis metropolitan area. The Museum at the Gateway Arch, located in the underground visitor center beneath the arch's base, was renovated in 2018 and provides extensively detailed exhibits on the city's fur trade history, the concept of Manifest Destiny, and the construction of the arch itself. A documentary film on the arch's engineering challenges runs throughout the day. The riverfront below the arch has walking and cycling paths, and riverboat excursions depart from the levee on the Mississippi. Tram tickets must be purchased in advance or on-site and go quickly on summer weekends.