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Gateway Arch

Art & landmarks
In St. Louis, Missouri
0.7 mi from Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO, rises 630 feet beside the Mississippi River and is the tallest arch in the world. Designed by Eero Saarinen and finished in 1965, the stainless steel monument honors the westward growth of the United States and is nicknamed the Gateway to the West. It stands inside Gateway Arch National Park and is the landmark most travelers picture when they think of St. Louis.

What is Gateway Arch?

The Arch is a weighted catenary curve, the shape a hanging chain makes, turned upside down and clad in stainless steel. At 630 feet it is Missouri's tallest structure that people can go into, and some sources rank it as the tallest monument made by humans anywhere in the Western Hemisphere.

It was dedicated to the American people and stands where St. Louis was founded in 1764, on the river's west bank. The Arch is a National Historic Landmark and the centerpiece of Gateway Arch National Park.

History of Gateway Arch

Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen came up with the design in 1947. Building did not start until February 12, 1963, and the last piece went in on October 28, 1965. Visitors were first let in on June 10, 1967.

Over the decades the monument has seen anniversaries, a dedication and a renovation, and it has become one of the best-known symbols of any American city.

Visiting Gateway Arch: tips

Give yourself at least half a day if you plan to go up and also see the grounds. The Arch reports wheelchair access. The riverfront park gives room to step back for a full-height photo.

Downtown neighbors make easy add-ons: the National Blues Museum and the Eugene Field House are each about half a mile away.

The Arch shares its grounds with the rest of Gateway Arch National Park, including the museum beneath it and the Old Courthouse a few blocks inland, so it is worth pairing the monument with at least one of them.

Practical info

Address: St. Louis, MO 63102
Phone: +1 877-982-1410
Website: gatewayarch.com
Hours: Mon–Thu, Sun 9–6 · Fri, Sat 9 am–8 pm
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Gateway Arch

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Crown Candy Kitchen
St. Louis, MO · 2.0 mi from Gateway Arch
An old-fashioned soda fountain and candy shop in Old North St. Louis, known for handmade malts.
Diner & restaurant
Ted Drewes
St. Louis, MO · 7.1 mi from Gateway Arch
A family-run St. Louis frozen custard stand from 1929, known for concretes served upside down.