Photo: St_Louis_night_expblend.jpg: Daniel Schwen derivative work: ←fetchcomms · CC BY-SA 3.0
Gateway Arch guide: the tram ride to the top, the museum, riverboat cruises on the Mississippi, tickets and tips for visiting St. Louis.
Rising 192 meters on the bank of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, the Gateway Arch is the tallest arch in the world and exactly as wide as it is tall. Designed by architect Eero Saarinen and completed in 1965, it honors the city’s role as the gateway to the American West.
The highlight is the tram ride: small five-seat capsules climb inside the legs of the arch in about four minutes, and at the top, narrow windows give views of up to 50 kilometers on a clear day. Beneath the arch, a free museum tells the story of westward expansion and the people affected by it.
The arch and the surrounding park are a national park. Combine your visit with a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi and the Old Courthouse, where the historic Dred Scott case began.
Don’t miss
- 1The tram ride to the top
- 2The view across the Mississippi from the observation deck
- 3The free museum beneath the arch
- 4A riverboat cruise on the Mississippi
Insider tips
- The tram capsules are very small; skip them if you are claustrophobic.
- Visit at sunset, when the stainless steel shines gold.
- The arch is a great stop on a Route 66 road trip.
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