Gateway Arch National Park guide · 1 min read
From Jefferson Memorial to National Park
Back in 1935, this site began as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, a name honoring President Thomas Jefferson.
Today the 91-acre park sits in downtown Saint Louis, Missouri, right along the Mississippi River.
Jefferson pictured a nation stretching across the continent. That vision took a giant step in 1803, when the United States acquired the Louisiana Territory from France. Known as the Louisiana Purchase, the deal doubled the country's area. Beyond Jefferson himself, the park honors the many people and cultures whose stories are woven into this history, as well as the part Saint Louis played in westward expansion.
In 2018, the name changed to Gateway Arch National Park. Congress approved the change, and it became official with the president's signature. The Arch is the park's centerpiece, a monument clad in stainless steel. A tram carries riders to the top in a round capsule, and at the base, visitors can reach out to touch one of the steel triangles.
Inside the Old Courthouse, Dred and Harriet Scott brought their lawsuit seeking freedom. Its courtrooms hosted several landmark cases, among them the first two trials in the Scotts' fight. Rangers lead tours through a modern museum that fills in more of the park's history, and the modern visitor center is part of the experience.
Walking the landscaped grounds is a good use of part of a day. Roughly 62 acres belong to the Arch and its surrounding grounds. The remaining 30 or so take in the Old Courthouse and Luther Ely Smith Square, along with nearby streets the park manages as easements. The plantings show the care of the park's gardeners, which makes an unhurried walk a pleasant way to round out a visit on a nice day.
