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Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

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Coach Bear
Coach Bear
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Editor Pick

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

  • September 16, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by flowergurl from Canton, Michigan
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is comprised of The Gateway Arch and the Old Courthouse. The Arch is certainly the most popular and most widely known of the two.

We took the St. Louis subway, known as the MetroLink, to the LaClede's Landing station. This is the closet subway station to the Arch. Upon exiting the station, I would estimate it was approximately a half-mile walk in to get to the entrance to the Arch. The walkways are wide blacktop paths leading through cool tall trees. The park is beautifully landscaped and maintained and the walkways are wide enough to accompany both families with strollers and couples strolling at a quicker pace.

Approaching the Arch, especially if it's your first time, you just have to stop and look in awe at its majesty. It was built to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase and the westward expansion of the United States, hence its description as the "gateway to the west". It accomplishes giving you the feeling of welcoming and beckoning you to enter a grand new territory to explore. You can close your eyes and imagine the pioneers in their wagon trains heading west. The Arch is 630 feet tall and is made of stainless steel. It is taller than the Washington Monument and more than twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty.

The planners did a great job of keeping the surface clear and uncluttered by creating an underground entrance to the tram rides, museum and mercantile shop which are housed in an underground area below the Arch. A gift shop is located underground. It contains a wide assortment of souvenirs, books, photographs, and memorabilia celebrating the Arch.

Tram rides are available to ride up inside the Arch to the top. The rides go up both sides of the Arch. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased on site. Be prepared for long waits. When we arrived on a Friday evening at 4:30pm, we were told we would be purchasing tickets for a tram ride at 7pm! Unfortunately we were there when one side of the tram rides were shut down after there had been a mishap in the ride two weeks prior to our arrival. We already had dinner reservations so we had to pass. It might be best to go early in the morning to avoid such long waits, especially with kids in tow!

There are two other events that charge a fee in this area. They are the Odyssey theatre big-swcreen movies and "Monument to the Dream", a documentary film about the building of the Arch.

When back outside, make sure you take a stroll over to the magnificent staircase they have just recently put in. It leads from the Arch right down to the Missouri riverfront and is majestic. The staircase is used for seating for special events and activities that are held riverfront.

The Arch is majestic and well worth the trip to view. Don't miss it!

From journal Westward Bound by the Gateway Arch

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

  • June 14, 2007
  • Rated 3 of 5 by 1229 from Lexington , Kentucky
There is a park with the Gateway Arch on it. The Gateway Arch is 650 feet from the ground. Below the Arch, you must go through a metal detector in order to get in the Visitor Center. Inside, there is a museum on the Western United States pass the Mississippi River. There are even audio sets in there. There is also a giftshop, where I bought postcards, and a theater. There is a tram that goes right up to the top of the Arch, but that can be scary to travel on and scary at the top of the arch. I would say my visit to the museum to the Gateway Arch below was enjoyable.

From journal Gateway Arch

Editor Pick

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

  • January 15, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by travellingdave from Calgary, Alberta
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is the centerpiece of Saint Louis, and its most recognizable attraction. Situated on the banks of the Mississippi River, with the downtown core at its feet, the highlight of this large greenspace is the massive Gateway Arch, often called the St. Louis Arch, standing 630 feet high.

Dedicated on May 25, 1968, the Gateway Arch is the symbol of Saint Louis. Symbolizing the gateway from the eastern United States into the western United States, the gateway honors the many pioneers and settlers of the westward expansion in the 19th century.

The on-site museum, the National Museum of Westward Expansion, highlights the struggles and triumphs of this era. Of particular interest are the Lewis and Clark exhibits, which highlight the explorer duo’s travels down the Missouri River. The museum is free to everyone, and is quite extensive – plan at least an hour to look around and enjoy it to its fullest extent. It is located beneath the arch (underground), across from the tram entrance.

After visiting the museum and being inspired by its stories and tales, head over to the tram and begin your ascent up the arch. Tickets are $11 and the wait time is negligible on weekdays, but can be significant on weekends and during the busy summer months. You’ll be led inside the elevator room, where a series of small doors line up with the stairs. Once these doors open, you’ll see the "eggs" within – small, 4-seat egg-shaped cars that zig-zag diagonally up the arch. Some will find the ride frightening, as you do shake about a bit as the car waves back and forth along the arch’s backbone.

Once you exit, you’ll be told to line up at the windows along the tiny room atop the arch to view the sights below. Because only a certain number of people can ascend and descend at a time, they generally allow you only 10 minutes atop the arch before you are forced to leave – so plan your time atop wisely. Head for the center window for some excellent views of the city of St. Louis, with the park, the old courthouse, and Kiener Plaza lined up in a row – it’s a great photo opportunity.

Next, head to the windows across for some sights of the state of Illinois and the Mississippi River. This view is less impressive, but can be neat if the sternwheelers are up and about on the river. Consider spending more time viewing the city, which is quite scenic from this height.

There is a marker showing the height of the arch at its peak, which is another good photo up here. It can be dizzying for some to look out these windows, though, as they are somewhat vertical. Elderly people may find the climb to the peak a bit strenuous – and you must cross the peak of the arch to descend down on the other elevators.

Visit the arch online at: www.nps.gov/jeff

From journal Under the Arch - Sightseeing in Saint Louis

Editor Pick

Jefferson National Expanision Memorial

  • February 4, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by kwasiak from Tucson, Arizona
Jefferson National Expanision Memorial

The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial contains the Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and St. Louis’ Old Courthouse. Due to time restrictions, we were only able to fully explore the arch, just see the outside of the courthouse, and see only a little of the museum.

The arch was designed by Eero Saarinen as part of a nationwide competition in 1947-48 to design a monument that captured the spirit of the western pioneers. The stainless steel arch is 630 feet tall. The construction of the arch did not start until 1963 and was finished on October 28, 1965. The foundations of the arch are sunk 60 feet into the ground, so the arch can withstand earthquakes and high winds. It sways about 1 inch in 20mph winds but is built to be able to sway 18 inches.

You enter the arch by walking underneath it. Underneath is a gift shop, a store that resembles a western frontier supply store, the Westward Expansion Museum, a theater, and the loading area for the tram. The first thing we did was see the movie on Lewis and Clark’s Expedition in the theater. That was one of the movies showing at the time, as I understand the movies change every so often. After the movie, we took the tram up to the top of the arch. On the ride up you can look out the window at the inside of the arch. At the top of the arch there are small windows on both sides. One side overlooks downtown St. Louis, and the other side looks across the river into Illinois. It was a pretty clear day, so the view was spectacular.

The Westward Expansion Museum is located beneath the arch. The museum contains mounted animal specimens, an authentic American Indian tipi, and information of Lewis and Clark’s Expedition.

The St. Louis Old Courthouse, dating to 1839, is one of the oldest remaining buildings in the city. It is most famous as the site of the first two trails of the Dred Scott case in 1847 and 1850.

From journal Day in St. Louis

Editor Pick

Fair St. Louis 2002

  • July 10, 2002
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Coach Bear from Trenton, Illinois
Fair St. Louis 2002

The week of the Fourth of July brings about an annual celebration in St. Louis. People from all over the country come to be a part of the World's Largest Fourth of July Celebration. My wife and I were no exceptions this year. Each night brings a crowd between 1 million and two million people. I think that they estimated the crowd for this year's July 4 attendance to be in excess of 1.8 million. There was barely room to sit or walk.

Held on the riverfront on the grounds of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Gateway Arch), a National Park, this festival was once a true part of the St. Louis heritage, entitled the Veiled Prophet Fair. This is a major tribute to the Armenian populace of the area and their festivals. But, it has transformed into something that we all, as Americans, can feel part of and enjoy. This is held in cooperation with the city of St. Louis and the National Park Service. The entire park area, including the Old Federal Courthouse, is included in the festival, as well as several surrounding city blocks.

We arrived at about 10:00 local time to walk around the area. There was a large air show, interpretations of different cultures (one was a Navaho flute ceremony), concerts by local and national entertainers, tours of the Arch, festivities and speeches at the Old Courthouse, an evening entertainer (Smokey Robinson was there this year), and then the World's largest fireworks display. We really had a huge day, especially since we decided to attend a Cardinal game in the early evening. The weather was sweltering, but there were lemonade, beer, and soft drink stands everywhere. Many local non-profit groups spent their time at the booths to earn money for what they do. My wife and I spent over $100 getting things that we wanted. There were roasted corn vendors, beer vendors, meat and turkey legs, candies, and many other things that people wanted.

Finally, watching the fireworks through the Arch at night gave an ethereal feeling to the crowd. The Arch seemed to float in the evening, as though it were only a computer graphic in a movie. Yet, it was real. The fireworks added to the spectacle, and we left wanting to return soon.

From journal A Return Home to St. Louis

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