Iconic Conversations: Amanda Burke, Gateway Arch National Park: 90 Years as an Icon for Historic Preservation

Join us each month for a thought-provoking speaker series that brings St. Louis history to life. Gateway Arch National Park and Jefferson National Parks Association are proud to host compelling talks by local authors and other knowledgeable guests who will explore a variety of topics relevant to the St. Louis region. You might learn about our city’s early beginnings, its architecture, our prominent leaders, the rise of the Gateway Arch, our civil rights struggles, and the best things to do around town. Book discussions will be followed by an author signing opportunity. 

All programs are free and no reservations are needed. They will be held at 2:00 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month in the rotunda of the historic Old Courthouse (11 N. 4th Street, St. Louis, MO 63102). The building is fully accessible, and a sign language interpreter will be on hand for each presentation. 

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (later named Gateway Arch National Park) was created on December 21, 1935, made possible by the newly enacted Historic Sites Act of 1935. This presentation, in honor of the Park’s 90th birthday, will cover the history of historic preservation in America and how it is reflected in the development of Gateway Arch National Park.

Our presenter, Amanda Burke, is an Architectural Historian who currently serves as the Cultural Resource Manager and Compliance Coordinator at Gateway Arch National Park. She is a board member for Missouri Preservation, the statewide historic preservation non-profit.