Gateway Arch Archives | Gateway Arch https://www.gatewayarch.com/category/gateway-arch/ Gateway Arch Wed, 10 Jan 2024 20:40:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 5 Picture-Perfect Photo Spots in Gateway Arch National Park https://www.gatewayarch.com/5-picture-perfect-photo-spots-in-gateway-arch-national-park/ Mon, 26 Jun 2023 16:51:32 +0000 https://www.gatewayarch.com/?p=24562 Gateway Arch National Park is the perfect backdrop for a photoshoot. Its many scenic spots offer countless angles to capture life’s milestones and Instagram-worthy moments. […]

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]]> Gateway Arch National Park is the perfect backdrop for a photoshoot. Its many scenic spots offer countless angles to capture life’s milestones and Instagram-worthy moments. Whether you’re snapping pics before prom, posing for graduation photos, capturing wedding portraits or popping the big question, the park’s 91-acres offer many remarkable backdrops.

Yes, 91 ACRES…so, we’re sharing a top-five list of year-round, photo-ready, Instagram-approved spots within the park.

NOTE: Professional photographers and videographers may be required to obtain a permit prior to shooting at Gateway Arch National Park. Learn about photography permit requirements at nps.gov/jeff.

 

  1. Upscale your photos on the Grand Staircase

 

The steps of the Grand Staircase provide a breathtaking perspective for a long gown and train, a group of friends decked out for prom or an elegant wedding party. Gateway Arch National Park’s grand staircase offers something no other staircase in the country has – views of America’s tallest man-made monument soaring in the background. The stairs face the east so plan for a morning photo session because it offers peak lighting for displaying the Arch in the background.

Pro Tip: Have the subject of the photo stand partially up the illustrious staircase. Using a .5 zoom on a cell phone camera or a wide-angle lens, the photographer should crouch low to the ground and tilt the camera upwards in a worm’s-eye view to highlight the subject and the majesty of the Arch.

Pro Tip: Touring the Arch with a group? This is an ideal spot for an ensemble photo. Stagger members on different steps to provide an inviting pose that showcases everyone clearly while also adding texture to the pic.

Bonus: Pose at the far East or West end of the base of the staircase (near the levee) for another aesthetically pleasing stairway shot that shows off the grandiose staircase while the Arch hovers behind.

 

  1. Gateway to your “Good Side”

Want to feature the subject’s “good side”? Fortunately, both sides of the Arch offer breathtaking views. Among the sprawling 91 acres, the park’s north and sound ends both supply lush greenery and wandering paths while also bestowing an optimal distance from the monument to incorporate captivating scale in portraits.

Pro Tip: Late March delivers a bonanza of magnolia blooms in pinks and whites, while summer and fall play host to a colorful landscape of various flora.

 

  1. A Reflection Worthy of Rave Reviews

Reflections make every photo more interesting. Your comments section is sure to blow up with compliments when you take a photo near the reflecting ponds on the North or South ends of the park. The reflecting light can offer a mystical effect behind your subject or capture the reflection of the Arch itself.

Pro Tip: Try a wide angle setting or step away from your subject to capture the full scale of the background.

 

  1. Base-ics of the Iconic Closeup

One of the most popular photos visitors capture gets up-close-and-personal with the monument. Standing at the base of one of the legs and looking up is a remarkable feeling which can be captured in a well structured photo. This is ideal for two subjects, standing closely to the interior sides of the bottom piece…looking down into the camera.

Pro Tip: Either as a selfie or with the help of a photographer lying on the ground, shoot skyward at the interior apex of the Arch’s bottom piece.

 

  1. Forced Perspective Perfected

With the monumental curve at the perfect distance, one can ‘hold’ the Arch up from the bottom of its legs, ‘push’ the legs apart, or even ‘pat’ the monument on its head. The possibilities are nearly limitless and entirely entertaining.

Pro Tip: To achieve the distance required for forced perspective, shooting from the west (near Luther Ely Smith Square) in late afternoon when the sun is to the photographer’s back is ideal…unless a dark silhouette caused by the bright eastern sun is part of your aesthetic!

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]]> Experience the Sights and Sounds of an 18th-Century Holiday Ball at the 1772 Twelfth Afternoon Ball at the Gateway Arch https://www.gatewayarch.com/experience-the-sights-and-sounds-of-an-18th-century-holiday-ball-at-the-1772-twelfth-afternoon-ball-at-the-gateway-arch/ Tue, 21 Dec 2021 17:51:43 +0000 https://www.gatewayarch.com/?p=22133 ST. LOUIS—Gateway Arch National Park celebrates the end of the holiday season as St. Louisans did in 1772 with the Twelfth Afternoon Ball in the […]

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]]> ST. LOUIS—Gateway Arch National Park celebrates the end of the holiday season as St. Louisans did in 1772 with the Twelfth Afternoon Ball in the Gateway Arch Visitor Center on Saturday, January 8, 2022, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. The Twelfth Afternoon Ball recognizes the completion of the Twelve Days of Christmas, which leads to Mardi Gras. This year’s ball highlights popular music and dancing from 1772.

The Twelfth Afternoon Ball will feature live music from Dennis Stroughmatt et L’Espirit Creole and dancing by living history interpreters dressed in authentic 18th-century clothing. Food Historian Suzanne Corbett will display 18th-century French Creole holiday treats. This event is free and open to all ages. Visitors may drop in to observe at any time during the event.

“Celebrate the New Year with us by journeying back 250 years to 1772!” said Pam Sanfilippo, Program Manager, Museum Services & Interpretation, Gateway Arch National Park. “You, your family and friends are invited to a historical holiday ball that you can’t experience anywhere else but at Gateway Arch National Park.”

WHAT: 1772 Twelfth Afternoon Ball

WHERE: Gateway Arch Visitor Center (mezzanine level)

WHEN: Saturday, January 8, 2022; 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.

RSVP: No reservations are required. Event is free to attend and open to all ages.

Consistent with CDC recommendations, face coverings are required to be worn by everyone ages 2 and older in all federal buildings, regardless of vaccination status. All COVID-19 safety protocols can be found online at nps.gov/jeff.

ABOUT GATEWAY ARCH NATIONAL PARK: Gateway Arch National Park is located on the riverfront in downtown St. Louis. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Old Courthouse is currently closed. The park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Most programs are FREE of charge and open to the public. Programs and events at the park are made possible by the generous support from park partners Gateway Arch Park Foundation, Jefferson National Parks Association, and Bi-State Development.

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]]> 6 Things to Know When Visiting the Gateway Arch https://www.gatewayarch.com/6-things-to-know-when-visiting-the-gateway-arch/ Thu, 16 Dec 2021 17:01:35 +0000 https://www.gatewayarch.com/?p=22115 There are so many things that go into planning a visit anywhere, sometimes it’s difficult to make sure you’ve checked all the boxes! We’re going […]

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]]> There are so many things that go into planning a visit anywhere, sometimes it’s difficult to make sure you’ve checked all the boxes! We’re going to make this easy for you. Here’s what you need to know when planning a visit to the Gateway Arch.

  1. Planning ahead is key

What’s worse than hearing, “We’re sold out”? While the Museum at the Gateway Arch is always free, tickets are required for the Tram Ride to the Top of the Arch and the Documentary Movie “Monument to the Dream.” The tram ride sells out early and often, particularly during spring break, summer and the holiday season, so purchase your tickets in advance via our webstore or by calling 877-982-1010.

  1. Determine your parking… now!

While there are numerous parking garages and surface lots located near the Arch, we are excited to announce that through a partnership between Gateway Arch Park Foundation and Interpark along with Bi-State Development, preferred parking at a discounted rate ($9 for first five hours) is available at the Stadium East Garage, located at 200 S. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102.

You can pre-purchase parking with no validation required online. If parking is not pre-purchased, validation is required by scanning/stamping your parking ticket at one of two validators inside the Visitor Center at the Gateway Arch. (Validators are located in the West Entrance lobby just outside the restrooms and on Level 1 next to the Explore St. Louis Information Desk.)

With each preferred parking purchase at the Stadium East Garage, $1 will go to support ongoing conservation and preservation efforts, educational opportunities and community programs at Gateway Arch National Park through Gateway Arch Park Foundation.

  1. Know where you should enter the Arch

For more than 50 years, visitors entered the Arch at the monument’s legs. But all that changed in 2018 with the renovations to the Arch Visitor Center and Museum. Now the only entrance to the Arch is the monument’s west entrance plaza, which faces the Old Courthouse and Fourth Street. (For visitors needing to be dropped off, use the ADA-accessible sidewalks along Luther Ely Smith Square at Market Street & Memorial Drive, or at Chestnut Street & Memorial Drive to reach the west entrance plaza.)

If you’re taking the Tram Ride to the Top, arrive at the Arch at least 30 minutes ahead of your scheduled tram time.

  1. There is so much to see, so take your time

Where should you begin your Arch visit? It’s all up to you! Here’s our suggestion, though: Book a Tram & Movie Combo, which includes the tram ride and the documentary movie “Monument to the Dream,” about the construction of the Arch. See the movie first, then take the tram after – you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the construction workers who built the Arch without wearing harnesses!

Before or after the tram and movie, tour the free Museum at the Gateway Arch, which explores more than 200 years of St. Louis history, from colonial times to the Arch’s construction. (Allow at least one or two hours to explore the museum, but more time may be desired.) The six exhibit galleries feature an array of artifacts and interactives, including a full-sized, vertical log house for visitors to experience life as a St. Louisan in the 1700s, a 5-block scale riverfront levee model of what downtown St. Louis Riverfront looked like in 1852, and a replica of the historic Old Rock House featuring stones from the original building that were saved during demolition.

During or after these adventures, grab a bite to eat at the Arch Café or shop for limited-edition souvenirs and gifts at The Arch Store. Both the café and store are located in the tram lobby.

  1. Don’t forget the park grounds

With a jaunt around the 91-acre Gateway Arch National Park grounds via the park’s five miles of pedestrian pathways, you’ll have access to the Arch and riverfront from all sides, as well as the grounds’ iconic reflecting ponds. You’ll also see a diverse mix of more than 4,000 trees, including many species native to Missouri.

The 7.5-acre North Gateway of Gateway Arch National Park includes the Lewis & Clark Explorers’ Garden for children with a raised walkway featuring views of the Eads Bridge and the Mississippi River. Plus, you’ll get unencumbered access to Laclede’s Landing to explore other parts of the city.

While the Old Courthouse is currently closed for renovations, walk around the perimeter of the historic building to take in its incredible architecture and reflect on the many civil cases heard there throughout history, including Dred and Harriet Scott and Virginia Minor.

  1. Share your experience, and come back again soon

We want to see where your Arch journey takes you! Share your experience with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Tag @gatewayarchstl in your photos and use the location “Gateway Arch National Park” or “Gateway Arch.”. Also, leave us a review on TripAdvisor, Yelp, Facebook or Google, as we take your thoughts seriously in making the Arch experience the best it can be for future visitors.  And please, come back and visit again very soon!

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]]> A Lesson in Gateway Arch Architecture https://www.gatewayarch.com/a-lesson-in-gateway-arch-architecture/ Fri, 15 Oct 2021 17:23:44 +0000 https://www.gatewayarch.com/?p=21755 The 56th anniversary of the completion of the Gateway Arch is October 28! To celebrate, we’re spotlighting some of the unique aspects of the monument,  […]

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]]> The 56th anniversary of the completion of the Gateway Arch is October 28! To celebrate, we’re spotlighting some of the unique aspects of the monument,  including the Gateway Arch’s architecture.

The Architect

Designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, the Arch is an inverted catenary curve, the shape made when holding a chain at both ends. Saarinen set out to emulate the geometric shapes of the existing monuments to Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson in Washington, DC. He decided an arch was the best representation of a gateway for the “Gateway to the West.”

The Construction

At 630 feet, the Arch is as tall as it is wide – an optical illusion to most! Each leg of the Arch consists of double-walled, steel equilateral triangles, which are stacked one on top of the other and welded together. The complex engineering design and construction is completely hidden from view; all that can be seen from the outside is the Arch’s stainless steel outer skin.

The Topping Out

On October 28, 1965, the day the Arch was topped out, construction workers used heavy jacks to force the legs to 8.5 feet apart (they had rested only 2.5 feet apart) to fit the 8-foot-wide keystone.

Learn more about the construction of the Gateway Arch in this look back from Johannes E.M. Jensen, associate director of the National Park Service in the 1960s. To stump your friends on Gateway Arch trivia, head over to our FAQ page.

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]]> We Love Our Visitors! https://www.gatewayarch.com/we-love-our-visitors/ Fri, 08 Oct 2021 20:26:43 +0000 https://www.gatewayarch.com/?p=21731 We love seeing pictures and videos of your visits to Gateway Arch National Park — here are just a few of our recent favorites. Keep […]

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]]> We love seeing pictures and videos of your visits to Gateway Arch National Park — here are just a few of our recent favorites.

Keep sharing your pictures with us! Be sure to tag us on Instagram @gatewayarchstl, use #gatewayarch or #seedifferently, and location tag “Gateway Arch National Park.”  Happy snapping!

 

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]]> A Pawsitively Fantastic Park https://www.gatewayarch.com/a-pawsitively-fantastic-park/ Fri, 20 Aug 2021 17:00:13 +0000 https://www.gatewayarch.com/?p=21490 Gateway Arch National Park isn’t just for humans! Your four-legged furry friends are also invited to enjoy the park’s 91 acres of greenspace and more […]

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]]> Gateway Arch National Park isn’t just for humans! Your four-legged furry friends are also invited to enjoy the park’s 91 acres of greenspace and more than five miles of walking trails. Owners just have to follow the B.A.R.K. Ranger principles when visiting any National Park to ensure humans and animals alike have a safe and fun visit:

Bag your pet’s waste

Always leash your pet

Respect wildlife

Know where you can go

Share your visit with your pup! Tag us on Instagram @gatewayarchstl!

 

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]]> Preferred Gateway Arch Parking Now Available! https://www.gatewayarch.com/preferred-gateway-arch-parking-now-available/ Fri, 09 Jul 2021 14:27:51 +0000 https://www.gatewayarch.com/?p=21394 Through a partnership between Gateway Arch Park Foundation and Interpark along with Bi-State Development, preferred parking for visitors to Gateway Arch National Park is now […]

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]]> Through a partnership between Gateway Arch Park Foundation and Interpark along with Bi-State Development, preferred parking for visitors to Gateway Arch National Park is now available at the Stadium East Parking Garage (200 S. Broadway) in downtown St. Louis.

Rate: $9 for first five hours. For stays lasting longer than five hours, the current posted rate will apply. Pre-purchase parking with no validation required at iparkit.com/TheArch. If parking is not pre-purchased, validation is required by scanning/stamping your parking ticket at one of two validators located inside the Visitor Center at the Gateway Arch, located in the Arch Visitor Center lobby and near the “Heading West” exhibit gallery next to the Explore St. Louis Information Desk.

Pre-purchasing parking is HIGHLY recommended on St. Louis Cardinal game days. If parking is not pre-purchased, event day parking rates will apply and parking tickets cannot be validated.

With each preferred parking purchase at the Stadium East Garage, $1 will go to support ongoing conservation and preservation efforts, educational opportunities and community programs at Gateway Arch National Park through Gateway Arch Park Foundation.

To learn more about preferred parking at Gateway Arch National Park, visit www.gatewayarch.com/plan-your-visit/parking, call 314-241-7475 or email infoSL@intpark.com.

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]]> Volunteer at Gateway Arch National Park! https://www.gatewayarch.com/volunteer-at-gateway-arch-national-park/ Thu, 01 Apr 2021 21:32:36 +0000 https://www.gatewayarch.com/?p=20475 April is National Volunteer Month! If you are looking to get involved this year, look no further than Gateway Arch National Park. Here’s how you […]

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]]> April is National Volunteer Month! If you are looking to get involved this year, look no further than Gateway Arch National Park. Here’s how you can get make a positive impact and support St. Louis’ urban national park!

The Gateway Arch Park Foundation and the National Park Service recruit individual volunteers on an as-needed basis. Individual service volunteers work with both organizations in the following departments:

Gateway Arch Park Foundation

  • Operations
  • Communication
  • Development
  • Events

Gateway Arch National Park

  • Administration
  • Education and Interpretation
  • Library and Museum
  • Grounds Keeping
  • Visitor Services

Volunteer opportunities are also available on designated days of service, which demonstrate and celebrate the power of volunteers working together to support neighborhoods, communities and the world. The National Park Service participates in national and local days of service to help preserve the national park for years to come, including National Public Lands Day (September), National Park Week (April), National Volunteer Week (April) and Family Volunteer Day (November).

Volunteering also has its perks, including an annual general membership to the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, free parking during volunteer hours, and more!

If you are interested in volunteering at Gateway Arch National Park, the Gateway Arch Park Foundation’s volunteer page on their website will help you get started.

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]]> Pups of the Gateway Arch https://www.gatewayarch.com/pups-of-the-gateway-arch/ Fri, 19 Mar 2021 16:05:20 +0000 https://www.gatewayarch.com/?p=20440 Gateway Arch National Park is for everyone — including dogs! We’re sharing few of our furry visitors’ favorite ways to explore the park grounds. Your […]

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]]> Gateway Arch National Park is for everyone — including dogs! We’re sharing few of our furry visitors’ favorite ways to explore the park grounds.

Your dog can become a B.A.R.K. Ranger! All they have to do is visit the park, take the pledge and get a badge. Learn more online.

 

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]]> The Invention of the Tram Ride to the Top https://www.gatewayarch.com/the-invention-of-the-tram-ride-to-the-top/ Thu, 11 Feb 2021 19:40:28 +0000 https://www.gatewayarch.com/?p=20022 What do you get when you combine the engineering of an elevator and Ferris Wheel? The Gateway Arch’s Tram Ride to the Top, one of […]

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]]> What do you get when you combine the engineering of an elevator and Ferris Wheel? The Gateway Arch’s Tram Ride to the Top, one of the most unique experiences in the world. There is truly nothing else like it.

Did you know the inventor of the tram ride, second-generation elevator man (and college dropout!) Dick Bowser, had only two weeks to create the design?

Here’s how it happened: Bowser and his father had developed, manufactured and installed Bowser Parking System elevator equipment. According to Bowser himself, these elevators could travel horizontally and diagonally through a structure as well as the normal vertical travel. By luck, Bowser was visiting a friend at the Montgomery Elevator Company offices in Moline, Illinois, one day in 1960. The company had just been contacted by Gateway Arch architect Eero Saarinen’s office. They were looking for a firm to take on a “transporter” project for the Arch. The friend was aware of Bowser’s skill within the elevator realm, and knew he was the right guy for the project.

A month (and more back and forths) later, Saarinen requested a presentation from Bowser — and they needed it within two weeks. The task? They wanted to build an elevator of sorts to transport visitors to the top of the Arch. As far as criteria goes, the design could not impact the exterior of the Arch, and it had to transport up to 11,000 people in a 14-hour day.

After much planning and thought, Bowser knew a standard elevator, escalator or even a Ferris Wheel type was not going to work. But a combination of elevator and Ferris Wheel principles, he deemed, would be the solution.

Two weeks later, Bowser presented his concept of the tram ride to Saarinen and his team, as well as St. Louis congressmen, the mayors of St. Louis and East St. Louis, the director of the National Park Service and many others. He nailed the presentation. A few weeks later, he was under contract to design the Tram Ride to the Top. The project took six years and was completed in 1967.

What makes the tram ride so unique? You could say the eight tram cars (or “pods” as some visitors refer them to) that can hold up to five visitors at a time are unique in themselves. But a defining feature of the ride is the series of clicks visitors hear as they ride to the top. The clicks are the cars rotating along the track. The rotation allows the cars (and visitors inside) to remain level the entire way to the top.

The next time you take a Tram Ride to the Top, take a moment to appreciate Bowser’s innovative vision and creativity, and be inspired by his sheer determination in inventing this modern transportation system.

Historical information from nps.gov/jeff

Image of Dick Bowser courtesy of the National Park Service

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