Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot (192-metre) stainless-steel monument on the St. Louis riverfront in Missouri, completed in the mid-1960s and designed by architect Eero Saarinen. It commemorates the westward expansion of the United States and serves as the centerpiece of a national park.

The arch’s design was selected in a mid-20th century competition and construction took place in the early 1960s, with completion in 1965; it anchors the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial complex and has since been the focal point for riverfront redevelopment and preservation.

Located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis, the arch sits adjacent to the city center and is readily accessible from major roads and public transport serving St. Louis.

• Height and tram access: The arch is 630 feet (192 metres) tall - the tallest man-made monument in the United States - and contains a tram system that carries visitors to a small observation area at the top.
• Visitor logistics: Security screening is required for entry to the tram and museum; plan for timed entry and limited group sizes at peak times.

What to See #

• The Arch: The stainless-steel, weighted catenary arch rising 192 metres above the ground and forming a 630-foot high monument with a 192-metre observation crown.
• Museum of Westward Expansion: Museum of Westward Expansion located in the underground visitor center beneath the arch, presenting exhibits on the 19th-century expansion of the United States.
• Park and riverfront: Park grounds and riverfront plaza forming Gateway Arch National Park along the west bank of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis.