Gateway Arch National Park Research Center Mural Competition
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Gateway Arch, Jefferson National Parks Association announced a public call for entries to a mural design competition. The winning mural will be prominently featured in the new Gateway Arch National Park Research Center, located in the historic Old Post Office building in downtown St. Louis.
While the Archives Research Room may eventually relocate, the mural will serve as a significant public-facing feature during this phase of the Center’s development. Documentation of the mural will be preserved as part of the archival record, ensuring the work remains accessible to future researchers and visitors even after the physical display concludes.
The competition is now closed and we received almost two dozen submissions. Our panel of judges—made up of representatives from Bi-State Development, Gateway Arch Park Foundation, Great Rivers Greenway, Jefferson National Parks Association, the National Park Service, and the Regional Arts Commission—will carefully review each entry and select a winning design by August 15. We are grateful to the artists who participated and look forward to announcing a winner soon.
Click here for the competition program booklet with detailed information.
Gateway Arch National Park Archives
The Archives Reading Room at Gateway Arch Research Center is a new space dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the park. Located at the Old Post Office in downtown St. Louis, the Research Center will open by appointment starting October 1, 2025.
The park's archival collection was created in 1988, when Jefferson National Parks Association (JNPA) helped fund its creation to support the National Park Service. Until then, materials had been collected without organization or a permanent home since the 1930s. The collection now includes thousands of items: drawings, photos, reports, maps, letters, and more.
These records tell the story of how the park was imagined, planned, built, and managed over time. They cover everything from the original design competition that resulted in the construction of the Gateway Arch, documents related to key figures involved in the park's creation, and other records that explore topics related to the nation's westward expansion. The opening of the Research Center will make it easier for students, researchers, and other curious parties to explore the history of the Gateway Arch National Park.
Closes July 25
Submissions will be accepted here from June 23 through 4:00 p.m. CDT July 25.
Announcing August 15
Our panel of judges will evaluate submissions and select a winner by August 15.
Done by September 15
The contest winner will paint the mural in the research room by September 15.
October
The mural will be unveiled in October for the Gateway Arch's 60th anniversary.
