Things to Do Archives | Gateway Arch

5 Picture-Perfect Photo Spots in Gateway Arch National Park

Riley Mullgardt — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 16:51:32 +0000

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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6 Things to Know When Visiting the Gateway Arch

Sam Masterson — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 17:01:35 +0000

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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We Love Our Visitors!

Sam Masterson — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 20:26:43 +0000

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

Sam Masterson — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 17:00:13 +0000

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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Park Spotlight: Harry S. Truman National Historic Site

Sam Masterson — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 14:15:38 +0000

There are seven National Park Service sites in Missouri and each one has a special place in the state’s history. This month we’re highlighting the history and things to do at the Harry S Truman National Historic Site located in Independence, Missouri.

The Harry S Truman National Historic Site honors the life and history of the 33rd U.S. president and was authorized a National Park Service site in 1983. Harry Truman, president from 1945 to 1953, was the only U.S. president to see combat during the First World War. His war experience influenced the course of his life and his eight-year presidency. President Truman and his wife, Bess, lived on the historic site’s property in the years before and after Truman’s presidency until 1972, when Truman passed.

Born in rural Missouri, Truman claimed Independence as his hometown. The home in Independence still houses all the original belongings that Bess left behind when she willed their home to the U.S. in 1982, including the president’s iconic fedora and his last automobile, among many other significant items from the Trumans’ lives.

Bess’ grandfather, George Gates, built the Truman home over an 18-year period and it was finally completed in 1885. At the site, visitors can see additional homes on the property including the Noland Home, where Truman’s cousins lived, and the Wallace Homes, where Bess’ brothers lived, which were added to the historic site in 1989. The Truman Farm, where the president lived in his early years, from 1906 to 1917, was added in 1993.

You can learn more about the Harry S Truman National Historic Site and plan your visit at nps.gov/hstr.

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Park Spotlight: Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

Sam Masterson — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 20:45:10 +0000

Missouri is home to seven National Park Service sites, and we’re highlighting the history and things to do at each park. This month, we’re highlighting Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in Republic, Missouri.

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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Park Spotlight: George Washington Carver National Monument

Sam Masterson — Fri, 21 May 2021 19:35:33 +0000

Did you know Missouri is home to seven National Park Service sites? Each has its own story to tell, so every month, we’re highlighting the history and things to do at each park. This month, we’re highlighting George Washington Carver National Monument located in Diamond, Missouri.

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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Park Spotlight: Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Sam Masterson — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 15:29:59 +0000

The summer travel season is nearly upon us! If you are planning to get out of town, consider a trip to one of the Show Me State’s seven National Park Service sites, Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

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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Volunteer at Gateway Arch National Park!

Sam Masterson — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 21:32:36 +0000

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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Park Spotlight: Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

Sam Masterson — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 16:26:30 +0000

Did you know Missouri is home to seven National Park Service sites? Each has its own story to tell, so every month, we’re highlighting the history and things to do at each park. To start, what do you know about Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, located in St. Louis?

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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