America’s Newest National Park: Gateway Arch National Park

The name Jefferson National Expansion Memorial may not ring a bell to many. So, that’s why it was renamed! Gateway Arch National Park became the newest national park in the United States on February 22, 2018. While there are a lot of arguments whether this should be considered the 60th national park, it has been maintained by the National Park Service since the 1930s when it was set aside to honor Thomas Jefferson and his expansion west.

Hearing about the St. Louis arch and it being the “Gateway to the West” in school growing up inspired me to visit it. I was so excited to see it as we drove towards it on the interstate. Standing next to it in person was a bucket list check moment in my life.

The newest national park (thanks to the name change) is a 91 acre plot of land established to remember Thomas Jefferson’s deal to purchase the Louisiana territory from France in 1803. This allowed early pioneers to head west to make their homes. There’s a whole lot of history in this little national park.

Just think about the land here in St. Louis for just a moment. The Battle of St. Louis in which the British tried to overtake this area, is the only battle during the American Revolutionary War that was west of the Mississippi River. See, in the early 1700s the Louisiana Territory was owned by France and they explored the area. In fact, most of what is now the United States was owned by the French until the French and Indian War in 1762 when they ceded the land west of the Mississippi River to Spain.

Spain prohibited exploration of the territory by the early American settlers. After a quick transition of power over the land from Spain to France to the US, the United States took control in 1804. This allowed Meriwether Lewis and William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to legally explore the land west of the Mississippi River. This purchase of the Louisiana Territory was one of Thomas Jefferson’s greatest accomplishments. Where would our nation be today without this land?

The famous Dred Scott freedom case occurred in the Old Courthouse that is the present welcome center for the newest national park. Scott, an enslaved African American, unsuccessfully tried suing for his family’s freedom. This sparked a lot of controversy leading up to the Civil War. The Old Courthouse is filled with interactive activities and history of the area.

Built as a monument to represent the westward expansion after the Louisiana Purchase, the Gateway Arch is 630 feet high, making it the world’s tallest arch.

A few years back we had the privilege of riding the tram to the top of the stainless steel arch. We waited outside a numbered door for our turn to go to the top. The tram ride up was interesting as it is a small space in which you are seated and was our first diagonal lift.

From the top, there are 16 windows on each side in which one can see views over the Mississippi River or St. Louis. It was rather toasty inside with many people trying to get pictures of the amazing views. It was either really windy or our imagination, but we could feel the arch sway as it moved in the wind. The Gateway Arch can actually sway 18 inches in the wind and withstand an earthquake.

The new updated arch museum is set to open in July of this year. There is said to be a 1700s style log house that is full size, lots of interactive activities, and more detail on St. Louis history at the time of the westward expansion. While we were there, we loved the national history that displayed the Gateway Arch. I sure hope it is not removed as it is a lovely display!

• Order tickets to the top of the arch online to save time. Tickets DO sell out.
• Arrive early. There will be a line to get past security and many people at the top all trying to look out of the windows at the same time.
• Don’t just admire the arch from outside. Take the tram to the top of the arch. It seats 5 people in a small, closed space that takes about 4 minutes to reach the top (3 minutes down).
• Make time for the museum.
• Expect to spend 2 hours here at the Gateway Arch.

We were lucky and caught a Cardinals game while in St. Louis. While sitting in our seats, we had a great view of the St. Louis arch in the distance. I love how big it is so that it is seen so far away.

So, essentially, this national park represents Jefferson’s role of the pioneers’ expansion west and also Dred Scott’s freedom suit in the Old Courthouse. There’s a whole lot of history for a national park!

Book tours with Viator with free cancellation options here.