The government shutdown has ended, and Gateway Arch National Park is open for business! As a thank you to the St. Louis community for your support, we’re hosting a free, family-friendly re-opening event at the park this Saturday, February 2, 2019, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join us for games, Junior Ranger programming, discounts on homemade fudge, ranger-led tours, a live radio remote from KLOU’s Vic Porcelli, and these seven unique experiences you can only get here! The park is YOURS to enjoy and explore.

1) Riding in a retro elevator. The Tram Ride to the Top of the Gateway Arch is the only one of its kind in the entire world.  Each tram car, or “pod,” holds five passengers and rotates approximately 155 degrees during the four-minute ride to the top – ensuring that the passengers remain upright as the Arch curves.

2) Marveling in one-of-a-kind architecture. When you visit the grounds, take a moment to stand directly underneath the Arch and look up at all 630 feet of it – it’s a vantage point you won’t soon forget. Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of a weighted catenary curve, the Arch is the tallest manmade monument in the Western Hemisphere.

3) Walking from the North Leg to the South Leg. Can you believe the two legs are 630 feet apart – the same as the height of the Arch?

4) Walking the halls where ordinary Americans made civil rights history. Built in 1839, the Old Courthouse was home to two landmark cases that secure its place in history: the Dred Scott case on slavery and freedom and the Virginia Minor case on women’s right to vote.

5) Connecting a national park to an urban city center. For the first time in park and city history, the recently completed renovations to Gateway Arch National Park ensure easy access between the Mississippi River, the park and bustling downtown St. Louis. Visitors can also enjoy five miles of walking and biking trails within the park.

6) Exploring Westward expansion. Commonly referred to as the “Gateway to the West,” the Gateway Arch was built to honor President Thomas Jefferson and his vision for the United States. In the brand-new Museum at the Gateway Arch, learn about Jefferson’s vision, manifest destiny, colonial St. Louis and more.

7) Cruising through time on the Mighty Mississippi. Opening for the season on March 2, the replica 19^th century paddle-wheel Riverboats at the Gateway Arch offer stunning skyline views that have been voted Best in St. Louis. With a variety of outings to choose from, including sightseeing, dinner, brunch and holiday cruises, a riverboat cruise makes a unique and relaxing way to experience the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis.

*Photo credit: National Park Service