The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri is the tallest National Historic Landmark in the US and a popular tourist attraction. It reflects westward expansion and is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, which also includes the Museum of Westward Expansion and the Old Courthouse. Trams take visitors to the top, where there are no toilets. Tickets can be purchased online or at the park, and visitors should wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. The north and south legs of the arch have exhibits for guests to view while waiting for the tram.
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri is the tallest National Historic Landmark in the United States. It is often referred to as “the gateway to the West”. The hollow arch is 630 feet (192 m) high, extends 630 feet (192 m) at ground level, and is a popular tourist attraction. It opened to visitors in 1967 and more than a million people a year make the trek to the top of the legendary monument.
The Gateway Arch is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. The arch itself reflects westward expansion into the United States during the 1800s. In addition to the Gateway Arch, the park contains the Museum of Westward Expansion and the Old Courthouse, which was the site of the original Dred Scott trial and the Virginia Minor for women’s voting rights in 1870.
The arch was built from February 1963 to October 1965 using 900 tons of stainless steel. The legs are 54 feet (16.5 m) thick at the base of the arch, it is 17 feet (5.2 m) thick at the top, and the structure weighs more than 17,000 tons. In strong winds, the bow can swing up to 18 inches (7 cm) in either direction.
Tourists wishing to visit the top of the Gateway Arch can hop on one of two trams which start at the north and south legs of the arch. After boarding the tram, guests will be greeted by a guide who will explain the history of the arch during the four-minute tram ride. Trams depart approximately every 10 minutes and each visit normally lasts about an hour.
Gateway Arch tours can be taken all year round. Memorial Day through Labor Day, tours are available from 8:20am to 9:20am During the winter, tours operate between 9:20am and 5:10am Last trolley departs 45 minutes before closing for allow all guests the opportunity to see the city from the top of the arch during daylight hours and for safety reasons. Visitors wishing to avoid large crowds should plan to visit before 10am
Visitors can purchase tickets online or at the park on the day of their visit. Gateway Arch admission tickets also include a small fee for admission to Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Park. Guests should wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. It’s also good to know that there are no toilets at the top of the arch.
The north and south legs of the arch each have unique exhibits for guests to view while waiting for a tram to take them to the top. The north leg of the arch contains the history of the arch along with photographs taken during its construction. The south leg of the arch shows what life was like in St. Louis during the 1800s as the United States expanded westward.
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