The Twelfth Afternoon Ball will feature live music from Dennis Stroughmatt et L’Espirit Creole and dancing by living history interpreters dressed in authentic 18^th-century clothing. Food Historian Suzanne Corbett will display 18^th-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.

The post Experience the Sights and Sounds of an 18th-Century Holiday Ball at the 1772 Twelfth Afternoon Ball at the Gateway Arch appeared first on 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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!

The post 6 Things to Know When Visiting the Gateway Arch appeared first on Gateway Arch.

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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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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Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield is the site of the second battle of the Civil War and the first major Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. It is also where Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general, was killed in action. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield commemorates and interprets the battle within the context of the war in the Trans-Mississippi West.

The Battle of Wilson’s Creek on August 10, 1861, lasted just six hours. The Union Army faced a southern force consisting of the Missouri State Guard, Arkansas state troops and Confederate forces. The battle was a bloody one: General Lyon’s Union Army lost nearly a quarter of its strength, while the Confederate Army lost 12 percent of its soldiers. This resulted in more than 535 casualties, and nearly 2,000 missing and wounded soldiers. The costly southern victory focused national attention on the war in Missouri.

At the battlefield, a 4.9-mile paved road provides a self-guided tour. There are eight interpretive stops at significant battle-related locations and five walking trails off the tour road. A 7-mile trail system for horseback riding and hiking is accessible from the tour road. The Ray House, dating from the 1850s, served as a temporary field hospital for wounded soldiers following the battle. General Lyon’s body was brought to the house and placed in a bed for examination. Visitors can view his bed, which is on display.Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield offers living history programs depicting Civil War soldier life, musket and artillery firing demonstrations, Civil War medicine and other topics. These are presented from Memorial Day to Labor Day on select weekends. The Visitor Center features exhibits about the battle, a film, an eight-minute fiber optics map program and a gift shop. The park is home to a Civil War research library.

You can learn more about Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield and plan your visit at www.nps.gov/wicr.

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George Washington Carver National Monument is the first unit of the National Park Service dedicated to an African American. It is the site where young George was born enslaved on the Carver farm and spent his childhood.

Nicknamed the “Plant Doctor,” George Washington Carver was a renowned scientist, educator and humanitarian. He is best known for his research into commercial uses for the peanut. His work with the peanut began in about 1903, and was aimed at freeing African-American farmers and the South from the tyranny of king cotton. With innovative farming methods, he convinced Southern farmers to grow such soil-enriching crops as soybeans and peanuts in addition to cotton.

George Washington Carver National Monument features the rustic Carver Nature Trail, a .75-mile self-guided loop that leads visitors into woodlands, across streams and along a tallgrass prairie restoration area. The trail also features a canopy of different native Missouri trees with lush ground cover, the Boy Carver statue, the 1881 Moses Carver House, and the pre-Civil War Carver Family Cemetery.

You can learn more about George Washington Carver National Monument and plan your visit at nps.gov/gwca.

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Located in the Ozark Highlands in Van Buren, Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first federally protected river system. It extends along 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers, and is an important center of biodiversity in North America. With more than 300 caves, the park preserves world-class karst resources as well as the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people.

The park contains several sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places as significant historic or archeological sites. A number of historic structures are also preserved along the riverways.

Visitors can enjoy day trips to the park, or camp in one of the park’s developed or backcountry campgrounds for a longer visit. Park concessioners provide opportunities for visitors to float the rivers in canoes, kayaks, johnboats, tubes and rafts. Interpretive rangers provide evening campfire programs, children’s educational programs, historical demonstrations, and guided tours at Alley Spring, Big Spring, Round Spring and Pulltite. The landscape surrounding the rivers offers opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, backpacking and hunting.

You can learn more about visiting Ozark National Scenic Riverways at nps.gov/ozar.

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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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Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site educates the public on the lives and legacies of Civil War General and 18^th President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia Dent Grant, as well as the enslaved African Americans and other residents of White Haven, a sprawling former farming plantation where Julia grew up.

The White Haven property was a focal point in Grant’s and Julia’s lives for four decades. The park is anchored by the restored White Haven home and includes a Visitor Center and a museum; it showcases Grant’s humble beginnings and links them with his future and the state of our country today.

White Haven includes several historic structures in addition to the main house: a large horse stable designed by Grant, a detached summer kitchen, and an icehouse and a chicken house, which have all been restored to their 1875 appearance. A walking trail surrounds the estate. Before taking a guided tour of the estate, visitors can watch a documentary film that details Grant’s life. After the tour, the gift shop (operated by Arch park partner Jefferson National Parks Association) is a fantastic place to peruse

You can learn more about Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site and plan your visit at nps.gov/ulsg.

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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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