Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot (192-metre) stainless steel arch on the Mississippi riverfront in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, and the centrepiece of Gateway Arch National Park, run by the National Park Service. It commemorates the westward expansion of the United States, for which St. Louis was a starting point, and suits anyone who wants a view across the river or an afternoon in a free history museum.

Saarinen's design and the 1963 to 1965 build

The Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen won the design competition in 1948, and the engineer Hannskarl Bandel worked out the mathematics of the shape. Building began on 12 February 1963 and the last section was set in place on 28 October 1965, at a cost of about $13 million. The monument opened to the public on 10 June 1967 and was dedicated by Vice President Hubert Humphrey on 25 May 1968. The arch is as wide at its base as it is tall, and its shape is a weighted catenary, a hanging chain turned upside down. Its triangular legs are clad in polished stainless steel that changes colour with the sky.

Egg-shaped tram capsules to the observation deck

Inside each leg, a tram of small egg-shaped capsules climbs to an observation deck where narrow windows look east into Illinois and west over the city. The capsules are tight and enclosed, which can bother people who dislike small spaces. Adult tickets (16 and over) start at $15, child tickets (3 to 15) at $11, and infants ride free. Prices rise on peak days, and the price includes the park's $3 entrance fee, which holders of an America the Beautiful pass do not pay. Tickets sell out on summer weekends, so book through gatewayarch.com or by phone.

The free museum under the arch and the Old Courthouse

The museum at the Gateway Arch, under the monument and rebuilt in 2018, covers St. Louis and the American West, and it is free along with the grounds, the gift store and the cafe. The park also includes the Old Courthouse, already about a century old when the arch went up, which has its own free museum and a Junior Ranger programme.

Security screening and how long to allow

Every visitor passes through a security checkpoint, and weapons, including pepper spray, are not allowed. If you hold a tram ticket, arrive early enough to clear security before your boarding time. Allow two to three hours for the tram, museum and riverfront.