Gateway Arch Fact Sheet

America’s tallest man-made monument at 630 feet, the Gateway Arch has beckoned visitors for 59 years with its iconic, awe-inspiring shape. The vision of renowned architect Eero Saarinen, the Arch commemorates Thomas Jefferson and St. Louis’ role in the westward expansion of the United States. Along with the Old Courthouse, it makes up Gateway Arch National Park.

A $380-million renovation to enhance the Gateway Arch visitor experience was completed in 2018, resulting in a new museum and visitor center, 11 new acres of parkland and over five miles of paved paths, as well as the North Gateway, an outdoor natural amphitheater for events and performances. The redesigned Luther Ely Smith Square, located between the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse, boasts an expanded park that stretches over Interstate 44, leading to the Gateway Arch’s new west-facing entrance connecting the Arch directly to downtown St. Louis for the first time.

Visitors to the Arch can experience the Museum at Gateway Arch National Park, which features six exhibit galleries: Colonial St. Louis, Jefferson’s Vision, The Riverfront Era, Manifest Destiny, New Frontiers and Building the Arch; take a Tram Ride to the Top; watch the award-winning documentary Monument to the Dream, which details the Arch’s construction; explore stories of the 1850s St. Louis riverfront in Virtual Reality; take part in National Park Service interactive educational programs; shop for memorabilia, gifts and even homemade fudge at The Arch Store; and dine at the Arch Café. Private event space at the Gateway Arch is also available.

Those interested in hosting an event at the Arch should contact the Gateway Arch National Park  by contacting Victoria Dugan with the National Park Service at (314) 655-1611 or victoria_dugan@nps.gov.

Gateway Arch Facts
• Construction on the Arch began on February 12, 1963; the last section was put into place on October 28, 1965.
• The Arch weighs 17,246 tons. The 142 stainless-steel sections used to build the Arch required almost 900 tons of stainless steel, more than any other project in history.
• The Arch was built at a cost of $13 million (about $130 million in today’s dollars).
• The Arch’s shape is a catenary curve, the mathematical term for the shape a free-hanging chain takes when held at both ends.
• More than 145 million people have visited the park since construction on the Arch started in 1963, according to the National Park Service.

Hours of Operation
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Summer hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. beginning the Saturday before Memorial Day – Labor Day. Last tram leaves approximately one hour before closing. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s
Day.

Location and Parking
The Gateway Arch is located on the downtown St. Louis riverfront. While there is no on-site parking available, preferred parking is offered at a discounted rate at the Stadium East Garage. More information is available at
gatewayarch.com/parking.

Accessibility
Except for the Tram Ride to the Top, all facilities at the Gateway Arch are wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening, captioning and audio description devices are available for museum exhibits and the Documentary Movie.

Tickets
Guests can purchase Tram Ride to the Top, Documentary Movie, and Virtual Reality tickets online at gatewayarch.com/buy-tickets, by calling 877-982-1410, or at the ticket counter in the Arch Visitor Center.
Tram rides sell out early and often, so it is strongly encouraged that guests purchase tickets before their visit.

Media Contact
media@gatewayarch.com