Catenary Curve Wayside

A wayside exhibit that discusses the curved shapes found in the architecture and landscape design of the park. Includes a tactile map of the grounds and tactile exhibit demonstrating a catenary curve.

• This wayside exhibit discusses the importance of the catenary curve in the design of the Gateway Arch and the curves echoed in the landscape design. It also includes a tactile map the groups and a tactile exhibit of the shape of the Gateway Arch and a catenary curve. 

Directly below the Gateway Arch

A perfect spot to stand and take in the engineering marvel of the Gateway Arch. Walk around or lie down on the green lawn and gaze up at the shining steel curving above you.

• a grass lawn underneath the soaring span of the Gateway Arch

Dred and Harriet Scott Statue

A statue of Dred and Harriet Scott in honor of their historic fight for their family's freedom.

• A bronze statue of a man and woman standing close together with hands held in front and their arms around each other's backs. The figures face east, towards the Gateway Arch.

Eads Bridge

The Eads Bridge is an architectural wonder with a fascinating history. Still in use serving vehicular, pedestrian and light rail traffic, it was constructed in 1874 as the first bridge across the Mississippi River below the confluence with the Missouri River and is the oldest standing bridge on the river.

• Three soaring arches of steel and wrought iron supported by stone piers span the wide and swift Mississippi River. The bases on either side of the river have two levels of graceful arches. Metrolink stops are built into this masonry structure at either end of the bridge and the light rail cars are visible passing through the lower level of the bridge below the vehicle traffic.

Flagpole

The flagpole in Smith Square is a good place to start your walking tour of the Gateway Arch grounds.

• a tall, shiny steel flagpole right at the edge of the green, grassy area in front of the Gateway Arch. Located next to dropoffs, this is a great place to meet up with your group and start a walking tour.

Flood of 1993 Marker

A marker on the Grand Staircase noting the high water point from the Flood of 1993.

• Brass plaque attached to the cement side of the grand staircase at the Gateway Arch leading down to the river. The plaque text reads: August 1, 1995. The bottom of this plaque indicated the high water mark of the Great Flood of 1993, on this date, the MIssissippi River reached 49.58 feet, the highest level ever reported in the city of St. Louis.

Gateway Arch Monument

An architectural wonder, the Gateway Arch is 630 feet of gleaming stainless steel in a timeless curve against the sky. Eero Saarinen won the 1947-1948 competition for a monument to memorialize Thomas Jefferson and the pioneers who went west with his Gateway Arch, a classic shape in a revolutionary material. Today, visitors can journey to the top in the unique tram system, learn about the history of St. Louis' role in westward expansion, see a film, shop and eat inside.

• A stainless steel arch soaring into the sky, 630 feet tall and with 630 feet between the legs. The Arch is made up of triangular sections that become smaller as they rise to the top. At the top are the windows of the viewing area. The light reflects off the steel in different ways throughout the day, sometimes a brilliant flash, sometimes a gentle glow and sometimes highlighting the gentle rippling in some of the higher up steel sections.

North Pond

A scenic and accessible spot to take in the lovely view of the north pond. Please respect the ducks and geese nesting with their young and keep your distance.

• a large man made pond, with curved borders sits surrounded by green lawn and trees, frequently ducks and geese come and go from the pond. On a still day reflections of the Arch appear in the pond.

Old Courthouse

The Old Courthouse is the location of the first two trials the Dred Scott Case. Dred and Harriet Scott and over 300 enslaved persons sought their freedom here through the legal system.

• A stone courthouse, painted white, topped by a copper dome with a green patina. The Old Courthouse appears to be centered in the Gateway Arch span when viewed from a distance and the Arch looms overhead when viewed from the west. When viewed from the east, the Courthouse stands out as a historic structure surrounded by modern buildings in downtown St. Louis.

South leg of the Gateway Arch

The south leg of the Gateway Arch. Get close up and examine the materials that make up this architectural wonder. Check out the welds and see if you can spot any marks left from the construction. Look up and see how the light moves across the surface.

• The bottom of the south leg of the Gateway Arch-the leg is a giant triangle in shape with smaller sections with visible welds showing how the pieces were put together. The pavement slopes down to the exit doors to the Arch Visitor Center complex and steps lead up two sides to the lawn under the Arch. The steel curves up into the sky, changing with the light, shiny or dull depending on the position of the sun. Ripples near the top make changing patterns of light.

The Captains' Return

Sculptor Harry Weber created this 22 foot bronze statue of William Clark, Meriwether Lewis and his dog, Seaman as a commission for the Greater St. Louis Community Foundation. It was installed on the riverfront in 2006 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the end of the Lewis and Clark expedition and their return to St. Louis. The statue was moved to a higher location upon the riverfront in 2016 to protect it from flooding.

• A 22 foot tall bronze statue, the heroic scale of the statue towers above the viewer. One figure, Clark, waves his hat above his head. The other figure, Lewis crouches next to his Newfoundland dog, Seaman.

The Riverfront

Once the bustling heart of city, the riverfront is still a great place to observe the Mississippi River.

• The Mississippi River flows past the Gateway Arch, marking the edge of the city and the state. The river is wide, flows swiftly and is mostly brownish in color. Looking across into Illinois visitors can see the observation platform at Malcom W. Martin Memorial Park and at noon from Memorial Day till Labor Day see the Gateway Geyser shoot a jet of water into the air 630 feet high for ten minutes. Barges and tugboats move up and down the river frequently and manuever under the bridges - the historic arches of the Eads Bridge to the north and the modern structure of the Poplar street bridge at the south. Riverboats and a helicopter pad barge are moored in the river nearby.

Gateway Arch Visitor Center

• Gateway Arch Visitor Center
• The Gateway Arch Visitor Center, located directly under the Gateway Arch, is the central location for the journey to the top, the Arch Museum, the film Monument to the Dream, the Arch Store and the Arch cafe. Enter the Visitor Center from Smith Square to the west of the Arch directly across from the Old Courthouse. The North and South legs of the Gateway Arch are exit only from the visitor center and museum.

• A View From the Top
• Tram Ride to the Top: Getting there is part of the adventure. Enjoy stunning views from the top of America's tallest monument.

• Gateway Arch Wellness Challenge
• Gateway Arch National Park offers you multiple opportunities to improve your health through physical, mental and learning challenges. Will you rest below an architectural wonder and take a moment to breathe? Will you stroll through the paved paths of the Explorer’s Garden? Will you learn something new about history? The possibilities are endless - personal wellness is out there waiting for you. And, it is well within reach.

• Move Along the Mississippi River
• Move along the historic St. Louis Riverfront Trail

• Explore with Lewis and Clark
• Stroll through the paved paths of the Explorer’s Garden located in the North Gateway area of the park. In the Garden, you can find plants that were used by Native Americans and detailed by Lewis and Clark in their expedition journals as they traveled west.  

• A Moment of Reflection
• Visit the reflection ponds to the north and south of the Arch. Relax and soak in the environment by using all five senses.

• Carve Your Own Path
• Explore the five miles of paved trails on the Gateway Arch grounds

• Rise to the West
• Ascend the Grand Staircase or gently sloping ramps to the top for a fantastic view of the mighty Mississippi River.

• Report for Duty
• Designed for visitors 5-18 (but open to all!) the Junior Ranger program is designed to help young visitors learn more about the people, places and events related to St. Louis history and westward expansion in the 1800s.

• Explore the Museum under the Gateway Arch
• The Museum at the Gateway Arch covers 200 years of history about the westward expansion of the United States with an emphasis on St. Louis’ important role during that era.

• See Monument to the Dream
• Learn more about the construction of the Gateway Arch through this award winning film!

• Become a Trails & Rails Guide
• Have fun riding the train and sharing St. Louis area history!

• Travel aboard Trails & Rails: Amtrak’s Lincoln Service between St. Louis and Springfield
• Enjoy your train ride and learn fascinating local history!

• Shop at the Arch Store
• Find the perfect souvenir and support Gateway Arch National Park with your purchases!

Walking Tour of the Gateway Arch grounds

Take a walk around the Gateway Arch grounds and explore this special place.