Museum: The Museum underneath the arch is extremely well done and worth 45 minutes to an hour of your time. I haven’t done the film yet (there’s a lot to read and see for free in the museum), but I’ll check it out on my next trip. Tickets can be bundled with tram rides to the top of the arch and even a riverboat cruise. Monument to the Dream Film: For $7/adult ($3/child) you can watch a 35 minute film about the making of the arch. The arch is designed to withstand earthquakes and in strong gusts of wind (50+mph) it even sways a little. It takes about 4 minutes to ride to the top and 3 to ride back down. In the museum under the arch, there’s a replica of the very top piece of the arch (where the windows are) so you’ll know exactly how big it is up there.

Once you get to the top portion, there are some stairs to climb to get up to (and back down from) the windows and the elevators that will take you back down the other side. There are five tiny seats in each pod and no room for strollers, wheel chairs, etc. There’s a model in the lobby underneath the arch that you can sit in to see what it’s like. You’ll ride in a small elevator pod to reach the top of the arch. I visited during spring break and by noon it was totally sold out but during slower times of the year it is possible to walk up and buy a ticket.

Tickets are $15/adult (16+) and $11/child (3-15) and should be purchased in advance to guarantee you get a spot for the day. But it’s at the top of my list for things to do next time I’m in St Louis. Partly because you have to plan in advance and partly because the thought of it makes me a teeny bit anxious. Now I’ll be totally honest…I haven’t done it…YET. Ride to the Top of the Arch: I’m always surprised by how many people don’t know that you can actually go to the top of the arch. Pretty much everything “to do” at the park is actually underground so the views up top are unobstructed. Gateway Arch National Park has a lot more to do than just stand around and look at the arch.Īrch Gazing: But I mean, you’ve got to just stand there and look at it for a bit, right? The area around the arch is a lovely park setting with great views along the Mississippi River and in the spring when the trees are blooming it’s especially lovely. Today it’s the #1 attraction in St Louis and even if you’re adverse to “tourist spots,” it’s one you’re not going to want to miss.ħ Things to do at Gateway Arch National Park In 1948, a national design competition chose architect Eero Saarinen’s sleek design and in 1965 construction was completed and the memorial officially became the Gateway Arch National Park and included the nearby Old Courthouse where former slave Dred Scott famously sued for his freedom and suffragette Virginia Minor sued for women’s right to vote. On the edge of the American frontier at the time, St Louis was seen as the gateway to the west. The memorial was to celebrate Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase in 1804 and Lewis & Clark’s subsequent exploration of the new lands with Sacagawea. President Franklin D Roosevelt had designated the area as part of the National Park Service in 1935 to build the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. The Gateway Arch was built in 1963 as an extended project to revitalize St Louis’ riverfront area. I feel like other American structures (the Statue of Liberty, Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building, etc.) get more attention, but MAN…the arch is really something. The iconic part of St Louis’ skyline has been dazzling visitors and locals for almost 60 years and every time I see it I’m even more impressed. No seating or restrooms are located at the top of the Arch.Nothing is more “St Louis” than the arch. To reach the top and return, you must be able to manage at least 96 steps, divided into six flights, and you may need to stand for 30–60 minutes. Please Note: The Tram Ride to the Top of the Gateway Arch is not fully accessible for guests with mobility impairments, as no wheelchairs, scooters or strollers are permitted on the Observation Deck. Start planning your Gateway Arch adventure now. For the best experience, purchase your Tram Ride to the Top tickets before you visit. Then, be transported 630 feet to the top of America’s tallest monument.Įach tram tour has an anticipated duration of 45-60 minutes. Since its completion in 1965, the monument has taken millions of visitors on the trip to the top to enjoy stunning views stretching up to 30 miles to the east and west.īegin your tour with our new, interactive pre-boarding exhibits featuring 60s era animation and Gateway Arch trivia. Shaped by the inspired design of Finnish-America architect Eero Saarinen, the Gateway Arch celebrates the westward expansion of the United States and the pioneers who made it possible. Gaze at over 43,000 tons of concrete and steel making an iconic, elegant arc 63 stories high into the Midwest sky.

St louis arch inside elevator