Gateway Arch National Park
- The former name of this park was Jefferson National Expansion Memorial; the name was changed in 2018.
- A tram ride to the top of the Arch takes four minutes, but the journey back down only takes three.
- There are 1,076 steps in each leg of the Arch, but they are only used by maintenance personnel.
- Land for the historic Old Courthouse was donated in 1816, by Judge John Baptiste Charles Lucas and St. Louis founder, Rene Auguste Chouteau.
Gateway Arch National Park is a memorial to President Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the American West, to the pioneers who helped shape the nation's history, and to Dred and Harriet Scott, an enslaved couple who sued for their freedom in the Old Courthouse.
The soaring 630-foot stainless steel Arch at the center of the park is the nation's tallest national monument. It was designed by architect Eero Saarinen and completed in 1968. Visitors can explore the stunning structure on numerous levels: underground in the park's subterranean Visitor Center, above ground on the banks of the Mississippi, and high in the air from the viewing deck at the top of the Arch, accessed by a short tram ride inside the legs of the structure. The Visitor Center was renovated and greatly expanded in 2018. It features a museum that interprets the nation's westward expansion, St. Louis' early history, and the design and construction of the Gateway Arch. Highlights include an extensive collection of artifacts from the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Two blocks west of the Arch is the 1839-era Old Courthouse, one of the oldest standing buildings in St. Louis. It was here that the first two trials of the Dred Scott case were held in 1847 and 1850. After a five-year closure, the Old Courthouse reopened in 2025 with expanded exhibits and new visitor amenities.
What JNPA Does Here
Through the operation of The Arch Store and The Old Courthouse Gift Shop, JNPA generates revenue that helps ensure a rich educational experience for the millions of annual visitors who come to this park.
The products we sell commemorate the history of the nation’s westward expansion, the early days of St. Louis, and the design and construction of the Gateway Arch.
The proceeds from this store help maintain and enhance a wide variety of educational programs, exhibits and public events at the park. Here is a sample of our contributions:
- We employ the park’s Archivist and Librarian positions as well as several education staff who deliver valuable programs to teachers and park visitors.
- We funded and produced the park’s virtual reality program Cobblestones & Courage. This VR experience immerses visitors in a 360° depiction of the 1850s St. Louis riverfront, where the Gateway Arch now stands.
- We support numerous special events and educational programs during the year, including astronomy presentations, living history demonstrations and evening programs.
- We support the preservation of the park’s history by underwriting conservation and archival work.
Park Highlights From Our Blog
