- Ailuri
- First Reviewer
- 4 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 16
- Reviews
-
44
- Photos
Wow
- August 26, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
wallyjenny from MASSAPEUA, New York
I'm afaid of heights but I went to the top.. You have to do it. I did make the mistake in buying the combo tickets for my family for the Riverboat Cruise---Totally a waste of time--DONT DO IT!
From journal St Louis
Editor Pick
Gateway Arch (The)
- January 2, 2008
- Rated 5 of 5 by
RoBoNC from Indianapolis, Indiana
The most recognizable symbol in St. Louis, and perhaps in the rest of the country, ranking up there with Mount Rushmore, is the Gateway Arch. The Arch is but one of a number of sites that is located on the grounds of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. It is a 91 acre park that also includes the Old Courthouse, which decided the Dred Scott case in 1857 as well as the Museum of Westward Expansion. The park’s location is near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition which led to the nickname "Gateway to the West."
My first impression of the Arch was that it was another architectural wonder. As we crossed over the Mississippi River, the Arch stands next to it with the St. Louis skyline in the background. At a height of 630 feet towering over the "Mighty Mississippi" it is the tallest structure in St. Louis. The most amazing aspect about the Arch is that there is a tram system that takes you to the top of the Arch with some of the most amazing views of St. Louis, the Mississippi River, and Illinois.
Visiting the Arch and the rest of the park is an all day affair. The park has an extensive security system such as found in many airports. Plan to arrive at least thirty minutes prior to your time to board the tram. All three sites in the park open at 8:00am and they close at 10:00pm with the exception of the Old Courthouse, which closes at 4:30. The only fees in the park is for the Arch which costs $10 for a ride to the top. Tickets are also sold for the theater and riverboat crusies on the Mississippi. Discounts are given when combined with the tram.
The Visitor’s Center is located underground beneath the Arch. After going through security, we boarded the tram. Each pod on the tram holds five people and if you are someone who is claustrophobic then you might want to avoid going to the top. The pods reminded me of something out of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The pod is egg shaped with five seats and I felt as if I was going into space. The tram ride to the top takes four minutes and the tram rotates periodically to conform to the curved track of the Arch.
Upon exiting the pods, we found ourselves at the top of the Arch. There are windows at the top, which are barely visible from the ground. The views from the top are breathtaking. All of St. Louis is visible, as well as the Mississippi River, and Illinois across the river. It has been said that on a clear day, you can see as far as 30 miles. There is no time limit for staying at the top of the Arch and when you are ready to go down, get in line for the descending tram.
From journal Two friends, Four Days and a Lifetime of Memories
Gateway Arch (The)
- September 19, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
anna195 from Springfield, Missouri
This is a very plain, yet awe-inspiring monument. And we hadn't even gone inside the museum yet. My boys thought this was just about the "coolest" thing they'd ever seen. The way the sun reflects off of the arch and the view of the Mississippi River makes this such a neat thing to see.
Inside the arch, you can tour the Museum of Westward Expansion. Here you can see some of the things that Lewis and Clark explored as well as how people lived in the "old west" times, including many other interesting facts.
You can also take a tram ride (actually an elevator) to the top of the arch where you can get an amazing view of St. Louis.
The kids will love this monument! My kids are still talking about it months later!
From journal Things to do in St. Louis
Editor Pick
The Arch
The arch is a must see when you are in St. Louis. I choose to take a ride to the top, which was a great deal of fun. The ticket cost $10.00 and a tram to the top leaves about every 10 minutes. The trams were unlike anything that I have ever seen, since the technology was made especially for the arch. There is a movie that you can watch while at the arch that goes in depth on the building of the arch and the tram system that goes to the top. The tram itself is a small pod that fits 5 people. Once everyone is in, the doors shut, and you are shot to the top. It takes about 5 minutes to go up. Once at the top there are several small windows that you can look out. This is a great opportunity for a photo op of St. Louis. I was told that on a clear day you can see over 30 miles. After looking around for a while I went back down. The ride down only takes 4 minutes because gravity is working for you.
If you are looking to kill some time or don’t want to spend much money there are several other activities available in the base of the arch. First it is very nicely air-conditioned, so on those hot days this is the place to be. Secondly, there is a museum that details westward expansion. They boast the world’s largest collection of Indian Peace Metals, and offer at lot of information about pioneering days. There was even a man, dressed in period clothing, teaching children about the toys of that time period and showing them how to play with them. Don’t be fooled by this. It was so interesting that several of the adults were all too happy to try out the toys too. As part of the museum there is a section based on the architect of the arch. It is very interesting because it tells the story of how it was decided to build an arch. Within the base there is also a gift shop and a small candy shop.
Overall this is a great family activity.
From journal A Day in Saint Louis
Gateway Arch (The)
- March 5, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Cherice from New York Mills, Minnesota
We went up into the Arch and walked around the museum. The museum part is free and is really interesting. It does cost a few dollars to go up into the Arch, but it is worth it. You ride in a neat car to the top and can see really far. You can stay up there as long as you want and then ride the car back down. From the Arch you can see the Old Capitol building and the Mississippi River.
From journal St. Louis