The new museum at St. Louis’ iconic Gateway Arch, designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, opened to the public on July 3, following a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion project. The museum features exhibits on various topics related to westward expansion and the construction of the Arch, all told through a St. Louis lens. The project, which began in 1963 and completed in 1965, has been completed after a four-year, $380 million renovation and expansion.
The Arch was inaugurated in 1968 and has since been reconnected to the city of St. Louis with a sleek new design. The museum features exhibits on topics such as westward expansion and the construction of the Arch, all told through a St. Louis lens. The renovations were completed in July 2018, and the new museum features exhibits on a variety of topics, including westward expansion and the construction of the Arch, all told through a St. Louis lens.
The key to a successful public space is feelings of “welcome and clarity”, says landscape architect Sam Fentress. Admission to the new museum, like the old one, is free. The project has been 70 years in the making, and the new museum will make a fresh debut this July.
📹 What’s inside of the Gateway Arch? (St. Louis, Missouri)
Did you know there is a tram system to take passengers to the top of the Gateway Arch? Behind the scenes: …
📹 Riding To The Top Of The Gateway Arch In The Tram Car: What It’s Like & What You Can See Of St Louis
Riding To The Top Of The Gateway Arch In The Tram Car: What It’s Like & What You Can See Of St Louis When I was a kid …
I was on the tram as a kid like 12ish first time in the late 60’s. Another guy does a article actually riding in the tram. I noticed a difference. The tram cars self level as they go up, seems sort of smooth, slight movement… When I went up in the late sixties, when it “leveled” going up it was much more noticable with a racheting type of noise and three or four slight jerking movements as it leveled. It did this at set intervals so you were never too unlevel, but it wasn’t a continuous adjustment. As a kid it was amazingly fun… The whole thing.
To be honest, I never knew that the Arch has an observation deck and an underground museum. This place is so underrated. I only thought there was a huge arch in St Louis, but I thought visitors only came to see it from the outside, but never knew you can go inside. Also, worth to mention, this article is really great to understand how this arch was built. Really great article.
I was 8 years old when the Arch Keystone was put in, I have been there over 100 times riding the tram almost every time! This is one of the best article presentations I’ve ever seen of the arch. You could include a little bit of the original footage of the Keystone being put in. I think a lot of people appreciate seeing that. A lot of my dad‘s friends worked on the arch. It was really a thing of pride and joy for people in St. Louis.🎉
There’s the arch! Said by every St. Louis kid any time you drive towards the city 🙂 I still say it in my head, and it’s a meme on the St. Louis subreddit. You made an excellent article, honestly the Arch website could put this up as the official tour article and it’s probably better than whatever they’ve contracted out in the past. Great work!
This thing either gave me or solidified my fear of heights. My family went on a trip to St Louis, and we went up the Arch, as you do. That sideways elevator ride up, the tiny corridor at the top, and the height of the thing had me almost paralyzed at the top and it took all the effort I could muster just to hobble my way across to the elevator down. Maybe I only started actually noticing it afterwards, but since then, I’ve always struggled with heights, and even just elevators. I have a love for the Arch in the same way I have one for the Bean in Chicago, since it’s just a very cool piece of art, but I promise you that never again in my life will I ever go back up the thing.
In 1969 I took a Greyhound bus ride from Portland, OR, to Washington, D.C. I wanted to see how lightweight the metal of the Arch was. I went up to it and slapped it. Needless to say, it was solid. I was only there a few minutes, so never knew you could go up into it. Maybe next time. Following President Jefferson’s directive, the Lewis and Clark Expedition left from St. Louis in 1804. By 1805 it got to Portland, Or. in 1905 there was a big centennial celebration in Portland. On a personal note, for the occasion there were picture albums made of leather pages. In 1975 I found one at a garage sale. Apparently someone had bought it in 1905 as a young person. Maybe in their 90’s they died, and it was put up for sale, which is when I came along and bought it. So, that was a side result of Jefferson’s sending out Lewis and Clark.🤗😮🙄
Another visitor of the arch here, and amazing work Jared! It is exactly as I remember it, and something that isn’t quite covered in your article is the shifting scale of the thing. Even though its got 3 sides, the edges aren’t always defined at the certain angles and the size almost seems to shift based on perspective, both from far away and close, and walking around it. Coupled with the stainless steel, its a dazzling effect and truly mesmerizing. I strongly recommend anyone within 500 miles to take a trip and visit the Arch, there isn’t a bad view to be found near it or at the top!
Great article! We drove by there in June 2001 from California on our way back east for my son’s graduation gift of wanting to see the Vietnam Memorial in D.C. before he went to boot camp for the Marine’s. As we were just trying to get from point A to point B we just drove by but I never knew it was anything but a structure! It was very interesting to see its build.
Hi Jared Owen, future article idea: RV Calypso Research Ship. It was an incredible WWII minesweeper converted to a research ship under captain Jacques Cousteau, containing several amazing features such as an internal diving access point, on-board manned submersible, and a helicopter, boasting many scientific discoveries in its time at sea.
Awesome article! I’m glad to see you can still go out the ramps by the arch legs, which used to be the only entrance to the museum. One of the amazing things about visiting the Gateway Arch, at least when I last did and when I was a child, was that you can walk right up to the leg and look at it. And if they still let you, you can even touch it. It’s pretty amazing to look up along the side of the leg. If you look from the outside it looks like the arch is just a flat piece of steel because you can’t see the other two sides of the triangles. It’s an amazing and historic structure, and an engineering marvel.
It’s unfortunate that the observation deck is not wheelchair accessible, but that’s why they put so much effort into letting you see what it’s like up there from inside the museum. I hope someday they are able to retrofit the observation deck to make it more accessible. It wouldn’t be easy, but it’s definitely possible.
I’m loving it so far! I have a great love for the Gateway Arch, and like to learn anything about it that I can. 4:54 small correction: the segments that were too large to ship in one piece were shipped in three sort of L-shaped pieces. That way, the field joints were 1/3 of the way down a side panel, not the corner. The more complicated corner joints were done at the factory.
Back in the early 70’s, we cast a set of iron cable pullies used in the arch. Took test bars after every pour and had the metallurgy of the bars printed out on paper so the government inspectors could see we were in spec…had the old master patterns for years. Pretty neat going on the arch knowing my parts were being used to carry us up.
Beautiful graphic work and wonderful explanarion. The first to use reversed catenary had been Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) to build the dome (cupola) of the cathedral of Florence (Firenze). Not only he did that but invented also the proper derricks and all the machinery to lift stones and bricks to the exact position in just one go, and even a peculiar boat to bring there the marble along the river.
As a person who has vertigo, is terrified of heights, and just a little claustrophobic- this was one of the most awful things I have ever done. But as a mom it was also ohe of the best- my 2 sons had a blast, we got some great photos, and made good memories. Did I mention that the little cars are tiny, very little air, take forever to get to the top, and thats it’s really, really, really tall, and it freaking moves? Like alot.😂😂
This was very interesting. I last visited the arch in 1994. There was no theater and the museum was just the big area directly below the arch. I am not certain, but I only remember that the entrance and exists were at the two bases of the arch. They’ve expanded it a great deal judging from this animation. I certainly recall the arch swaying in the wind when I was up in the observation area. That was an “interesting” feeling.
I’ve visited StL numerous times and gazed upon the Arch with wonder, even as an adult (after all, aren’t we all just big kids??). Your in-depth animated tutorial offered much more than I already knew, Jared… and that’s why I return over and over to see what you’ve cooked up for us “curious” humans! Thank you again!
Been to the top of the Gateway Arch several times. This is a very accurate description! Definitely watch the making-of movie. Amazing engineering! And fun fact… when going to the top, the cars actually start to tilt several degrees before “clicking” back to level. It does this many times. I believe the orientation of the cars are “locked” to the track system until a tilt sensor (or mechanical system) trips and re-levels the cars individually.
My family, and I, have been to the Arch ever since June of 1971, when I had graduated from college with my RN degree. We took a 3 and 1/2 week tour from Rhode Island, across country, seeing every famous site that we could, and it was glorious! I’ve been back, to the Arch, several times with different members of my family. It is memorable!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you. You have answered a question I’ve had for 60 years. Before the keystone piece was raised, children in all elementary grades in St. Louis were asked to sign their name on a register to be placed in a time capsule at the top of the arch. I was too young to understand what that actually meant, but I have always wondered what happened to them, and if they are still there. Now I know. I do have pictures of the capsules at the top of the arch with the captions “time capsule” with no explanation. Thank you very, very much.
In the early 1980s, I was taking a Greyhound bus trip from Tennessee to Iowa. I had to change buses in St. Louis, and had a 3 hour wait for the connecting bus. At that time, the Greyhound bus station was only 4-5 blocks from the Arch. Absolute perfect time to visit! There weren’t all the amenities then as there are now, but it was wonderful to see and experience. Not being a fan of Ferris wheels, I was apprehensive about the tram ride, but it was very pleasant. There weren’t as many visitors in those days, and we were allowed to stay at the top as long as we wanted. It is still a great memory, and I am grateful for the bus connection issue! If you’re passing through St. Louis, take a little time to visit the Gateway Arch. You will enjoy it.
I love the spread of topics you cover. I would have never looked up half the things you have explained to me by now. Many things are simply not in my immediate interests. But your articles are just so engaging and easy to follow. I think I have seen every one since I have found your chanale a few years back. Love your content. Keep up the incredible work!!
Jared, I’m shocked that the venues that you’ve covered haven’t reached out to you to ask permission to play these articles on a loop. Having this article playing on a loop near the lobby would be a neat addition. The NASA ones would be so cool to have at the visitor’s center. I know I would stop and watch if I was there.
In 1984 my Fathe, older brother, younger brother and I went to the top of the Arch for a day trip. My wife and four kids were driving through St Luis in 2010. We drove to the Arch but it was after 5pm so they were closed. We actually met an old co worker and her husband from Louisiana under the Arch. Small world. So instead we took the kids to the BigFoot monster Truck home office in Saint Louis instead. That was a must see for my Sons. They were still open and not far from the Arch off the freeway. We thought we’d make it back to the Arch one day but it never happened. I’m to old n broken from being a Firefighter/EMT to travel anymore. Hopefully, my children will make that pilgrimage up in to the Arch with their children one day. It’s a great Bucket List Item. The Arch has good memories for my family. Thank you for the article. Liked and Subscribed 👍🏻
As a Canadian historian, I can’t help but read that there is ‘Manifest Destiny’ Room. In my long term and objective memory, – ‘Manifest Destiney’ was just America’s version of pure Imperialism. ‘See ya later Hawaii’ and Hawaiian Royalty) You just got subjugated. 1898. Manifest Destiny is still operational.
Very well done! The pacing was good, narration was clear, the animation was smooth, and the overall look was clearly computer generated yet not realistic. That last bit may sound like an insult but, when CGI tries to look real, it looks horribly fake. Keeping the computer obvious in the computer animation is more believable … if that makes sense. Then again, I prefer Godzilla portrayed with a rubber suit. And the stop-action skeletons in Jason and the Argonauts are still scary even though I’m over 60 and know better.
Ok this is a lovely article, but right at the most crucial moments, when I REALLY want to know how they managed to manoeuvre everything in place, things start clipping. Specifically: how did they get the keystone under the jack @ 8:22? My non-engineer-brain suggests both cranes could each connect to a diagonal corner, but that wouldn’t allow the piece to sidestep the supporting structure halfway down the arch. Speaking of which: how did they lower that structure? Again, the only thing I can come up with is each crane grabbing a corner diagonally opposite? Other things glossed over imo: weren’t they scared the added weight of the crane would hurt the outside welds near the top and topple everything inwards? And the material choice: (tungsten vs stainless steel) I’m guessing it has to do with balancing pull and push forces? 10:47 — wouldn’t the tram work much more effiiciently the furnicular way (one tram goes up while the other goes down)? Guess I’ll have some other article’s to watch now…
I guess they didn’t know about Slip-Forming yet back then or they’d have been better off, lighter, at least as strong and far less expensive had they poured a Reinforced Concrete Slip-Form that they can reduce in size as they move up. They could have poured a hollow, triangular cross-section of reinforced concrete and skipped all the Structural Steel and then just Clad the Interior/Exterior. The only structural steel would be needed for the Stairs and the Tram System, much of which could have been incorporated into the Formed Core.
Fun fact, the arch was built by a construction company named Pitt Des Moines which was later bought out by Chicago Bridge & Iron in the early 2000’s. I worked for CBI for 30 years. Both companies have built some fantastic, historic structures since the late 1800’s. While PDM is no longer a working entity, CBI still build steel plate structures to this day. Think storage tanks of all types including nuclear, hydrogen, oxygen, LNG, water and many more. Great article.
I remember going to the Arch as a 10 year old kid – I’m from Arkansas so really, I could have gone about anytime but I’ve only been in it that once. But I remember the elevators clicking and turning. My dad and I have always been terrified of heights so we were sweating it and could barely look out the windows without getting queasy. We thought our demise was imminent lol. My mom and little brother have no such qualms with heights. I kept thinking about the floor falling through. But I remember we were in the hotel in Saint Louis on that trip when the news of Princess Diana’s death came on the news. My parents were shocked but I didn’t even know who she was at the time. So I have a lot of deeply ingrained memories of that trip.
I was able to visit during college and was so impressed. It’s hard to truly appreciate the beauty and ingenuity unless you see it in person. I was caught off guard how scary it was being at the top. You don’t think about it because you are inside and the whole time without windows but once you get up there and look out and down you quickly realize how high you really are. Great experience!
I happened across the arch on a coast to coast road trip in 1995, it is a beautiful and quite emotive structure with a character all of its own; i love the way that, as you walk through the city, glimpses of the arch can be seen through and reflected by the city buildings. I visited Oklahoma from the UK with my family in 2018 and we took a trip to St Louis specifically so I could take them to the top of the arch. It is a stunning structure, and this superb article captures it all well, thanks 🎉
I visited this in 1987. I flew out to see the Cardinals play the Buccaneers(Cards won 31-28 in what is still the largest 4th quarter comeback in NFL history). Me and my then girlfriend went up, twice. This guy isn’t kidding when he said those cars can be a bit claustrophobic. In this article you can see the hotel I stayed in. At the time it was the Clarion and it’s the round building in the shots. Thanks for posting this. Me and my daughter watched together and even she was fascinated.
Request… Launch loop. It’s a proposed, feasible mechanism for space launches with current technology. It’s decently described in Wikipedia and by Isaac Arthur on YouTube, albeit without full animations. A variant, the Lofstrom loop, seems to have been extensively described by its author, and can be a good candidate for your next article. Thanks for your articles 🙂
This is AWESOME !!! Great job on these animations! You could turn this “Hobby” of yours into a full-blown BUSINESS by doing EXACTLY this type of very explanatory animation of where all the major places, things-to-do and sightseeing is within a given attraction! There are TENS OF THOUSANDS of tourist areas who could use your expertise to create such easy-to-follow instructions! Now I know EXACTLY where to go when I visit the Arch sometime on my family vacation within the next one to two years! Do this for EVERY major tourist spot! As an added bonus at the END of each animated sequencem show REAL HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS or clickable/touchscreen Quicktime-VR-like 3D-surround view interactive articles of the individual parts so we can see what to expect in real-life. V
:hand-pink-waving:Mrs Richards: “I paid for a room with a view !” Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) “That is Torquay, Madam .” Mrs Richards: “It’s not good enough!” Basil: “May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plains?…” Mrs Richards: “Don’t be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!” Basil: “You can see the sea, it’s over there between the land and the sky.” Mrs Richards: “I’m not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction.” Basil: “Why?! Because Krakatoa’s not erupting at the moment ?”
I had the pleasure of visiting the arch way, way back in 1981.. Still have the ticket stub. A bit of trivia…. As the arch was being build, metal expansion of the southern leg was always on the mind of the builders. They used lasers to keep the legs aligned, but they did all the measuring at night after the metal had cooled. If you’re technically minded, I highly recommend perusal the movie on how the arch was built. Very Interesting.
Great article! But I have a question I hope somebody can answer. When I was 10 years old our family moved from Los Angeles to Cleveland, stopping in St Louis to visit my grandparents. While there, they took us to the Arch, and I still remember the tram ride up — its rickety movement and jerky angle adjustment every few seconds. But here’s the problem: we made the move in August 1965, and as this article states, the Arch wasn’t completed until October 1965. I know I don’t have my move date wrong, so what can explain this? Thanks to anybody who can answer.
One thing the observation deck is missing, ⚞A bathroom⚟ I was really considering pissing down those stairs. Just before standing in line, a friendly reminder to use the bathroom first before ascending would be wise. Still lacking such wisdom as a 10-year-old taking the roly-poly washing machine elevators up. I came down a wiser individual who has since become that voice of reminder. Also, one Overlooked Precaution that can save your life By Immediately Locating nearby fire exits when first stepping into any building.* 🢫 And how did I relieve myself you might ask? Using a small garbage can up in the Observatory deck. As Plastic soft drink containers were not a thing back then.
Non hai detto una cosa fondamentale: Il progetto di Sarinen è una spudorata copia della “porta del mare” di Adalberto Libera, progettato nel 1938, che doveva essere costruito all’expo dell’EUR del 1942 a Roma ma che poi non fu realizzata a causa della seconda guerra mondiale ! it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porta_del_Mare
You’re soo cool Jared, this is fascinating buddy! Per your description; if each triangle on one side was off by 1/16″ the same direction that’s ~ 4-1/2″ at the top. Now consider the opposite side the same skew the other direction the Keystone would have to juggle almost 9″ gap. I’ve been there 3 or 4 times, great place to do night photography. Safe Travels Jared!
Do you know that an equivalent arch was planned to be built in Rome during fascism (about 1920 – 1940) at the EUR district, a new area destinated to the Universal Exposition. Finally, the district was not completed due to the II war and the Expo did not happen. The entire district was completed after the II world war but without the arch? I suggest you to do a short search on internet. 😉
When you jumped from St. Louis being the last stop for people journeying west onto the design competition for the monument in the 1940s, I did a double take. Actually, I paused the article and just stared at it for a long few minutes. You skipped over the Louisiana Purchase. And Lewis and Clark. As someone who grew up in St. Louis, who learned about the history of the city and its role in westward expansion, and who had to sit through a documentary on the construction of the Arch in 5th grade, it was confounding to see those aspects of the Arch’s history/context skipped over. Granted, explaining the history of the monument isn’t the main goal of this article, so I can understand why you skipped over those things. But it still confounded me for a good few minutes.
Man, St. Louis really went to Hell in the last 20 years.. maybe it’s my own perception but it used to be such a lively, vibrant and wonderful city. But now it’s.. idk, just seems like it’s not been taken care of for a long time, so many abandoned buildings and broken down places. I feel sad everytime I drive through.
I once road a bicycle across the U.S. and stopped at the Gateway Arch. It was fantastic. Then I biked across the river and through East St. Louis. It was a scary, post-apocalyptic ghost town. It was a bright, sunny morning, but I felt like I might be assaulted and killed at any moment. It was creepy and horrible.
will the next articles be about vehicles and spaceships from the Leiji Matsumoto universe (vehicles from the Captain Harlock saga, vehicles from the Space Battleship Yamato saga, Galaxy Express 999, The Galaxy Railways and Submarine Super 99) and many other vehicles than spaceships such as (Space Carrier Blue Noah, Atragon, Super Atragon, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Submarine 707, Team Galaxy, New Battleship Yamato of Ikki Kajiwara, Konpeki no Kantai and Kyokujitsu no Kantai) and finally vehicles and spaceships from the Sonic The Hedgehog saga universe I know you didn’t do all that at the same time but only one step at a time it happens to take time but I know you will do
I’ve visited several times over the course of my life. I remember my first ride to the top. It felt like the initial climb on a roller coaster, but never gets to the top. That and you’re packed in this miniature, James Bond, emergency escape hatch with 4 other people. Claustrophobic people beware. Also, the way said cart jostles around whilst you’re moving to the top will make you question faith in God. There are no windows either. Watch your head when you get in.
my mom took me to see the arch when i was a kid, i would have been ten in 1964, so it had to be pretty close to the opening, certainly before 1970. i remember the car we rode in would go up some feet 10? then CLUNK as it shifted to stay ‘level’, more feet up, another CLUNK…it was very exciting. i remember the sway as we looked out the windows, crazy sensations! i am glad i had the opportunity to ride in it!
I just discovered your website. Coincidentally I’ve been thinking about passing thru St. Louis on vacation and definitely want to see the Arch. So this was great timing. I don’t know if I’ll actually go up in it as I have an aversion to heights AND to enclosed spaces. But the museum sounds cool. Thanks for the article!
20 years ago, I happened to be on a field trip at the top of the arch when the tram had a brief issue that required us to the emergency exit (its very rare, ive been there at least a dozen times and most of workers have never experienced a shutdown, but they know the protocol in case. It’s not something you have to worry about if you plan to visit). Your 3D model is incredibly accurate. Also, the whole thing where you have to go down the same side you went up is new, but it does help people for getting really disoriented when they come back down, so im in favor. It does feel a bit weird to be “segregated” at the top, but it makes sense froma safety standpoint as well.
Hey Jared, thanks for all you do. I really love and appreciate the breakdowns your articles provide. I’ve recently moved into a maintenance role, and I sit next to two giant centrifugal chillers. I’m very curious on what goes on inside of them, and I have yet to find any articles that come close to the production quality as yours. So, consider this a request for centrifugal chillers! Thank you in advance!
Whoa, there’s something in the Arch? All these years, never knew. When I visited, I thought I got the most outta of the arch by standing under it’s centre point, looking up, and spinning in circles…. ya know, to know what it looks like to be in a blender, and I thought, “Yeah, I got the full experience of what this landmark is supposed to be.”
This is an outstanding article. One detail would’ve made it even more outstanding: if, during the history portion, you had mentioned the fact that the riverfront neighborhood that once stood between the bridges was cleared out (forcibly) by the city decades prior to the groundbreaking. Aerial photos of the demolished blocks exist and would’ve been cool to see visualized. Regardless, this is awesome!
I went up in the late 70s with my two kids and my dad. I don’t remember much about the ride up or down except it felt like I was in a bullet. I really enjoyed being up top. My dad was a St Louis ironworker so the trip was very informative about steel and cables and things. He told me how safe it was so not too scary. He also worked on missile silos in North Dakota and many other interesting structures. I miss him.
When I was there, I did not go up because I feared my claustrophobia would be too much and regretted not going since. If I had known that you can see the stairs and mechanics of the building through the window door while riding up and down, I would have done it. I thought you were in that small space with no window whatsoever. Thanks to your article, I will go on the next chance I get❤
As a former St. Louis Arch tour guide myself, I can say that the guy you had as a tour guide, is one of the best. Looking back at how it was when I worked there to how it was just a year ago, is kind of jarring. The queue would always be packed and we would always end up with total strangers in cars together. Nowadays they couldn’t do that. Anyways, great article. I haven’t been back there and to the top since I left. You really covered all the best parts and the greatest views. And you gave me a little bit of nostalgia from my time working there.
Went up the tram once with a group of engineering students and the Park Service guide let us walk down the stairs to see the internal construction of the Arch. That was pretty cool because the stairs zigged zagged down the inside of the arch leg next to the tram, and eventually wrapped around the tram nearer the bottom.
As a native of St. Louis, I was there when it was built. The joke then was that the two sides wouldn’t meet at the top. Of course, they did. On that note, they took their surveyor readings at night so the heat wouldn’t distort them. I have been up in the arch several times and the only thing that bothered me was when I realized that, unlike a building, there was nothing under your feet except 630′ of air. Of course, the floor of the viewing gallery and the structure of the arch itself gives you more than adequate support, but still a strange realization. In addition to the museum, there is a restaurant and souvenir shop underneath. Try to go on a clear day if you can.
I was on an airplane delivery flight and as I flew across St Louis at about 400 feet to stay under controlled air space, I looked ahead at the arch and thought to myself, I’m going to fly through that thing. Then another thought flashed into my head —– there’s hundreds of people on that arch and every one of them will have a camera and someone is bound to get a picture of my tail numbers and I’ll be in deep shit with the FAA. Good judgement prevailed and I turned away just in time. It sure was a beautiful sight.
I went up in it about 10 years ago. I really like the Gateway Arch. I think it’s kind of an underrated/overlooked structure. Until you’re actually there, I don’t think people appreciate how big and majestic it is. The thing is just colossal. It towers over the whole city and can be seen for miles. I live in NYC and every few years take a road trip to visit people in the Midwest. I always stop in St. Louis to check out the arch.
Back in the 80’s, me and 3 friends were on our way up in the elevator. Just a minute or so before we got to the top, one friend let loose a horribly smelly fart and we were trapped with no place to go . The doors opened and we fled the scene as a new group immediately piled in to go down. They had to suffer the wrath of my friend’s fart all the way down.
This brings back some great memories for me. The first time I went up in the Gateway Arch was in 1970 on a family vacation when I was about 14 years old. It was a lot different back then. I remember old Busch Stadium where you could look right into it, and there was a game going on when we were there. I am 6’6″ tall so its a tight fit for me, but doable. Been there a few other times, and this inspired me to go back again. Thanks.
I’ve been up there once, and it was quite an experience. First, although I knew the cross-section of the arch was triangular, I didn’t expect the point to be on the inside. This means the window tilt down, as shown in the article. What isn’t shown is that you can not only look straight down, but actually through the arch to the ground on the other side. It’s kind of creepy. By chance, while we were there, a bunch of kids came along to the base of the arch and started lying down on the ground, spelling out words with their bodies, for those of us overhead to read. It was quite hilarious. Then, on the ride back down, the pods descended one position, then stopped. Since we were in the bottom pod, we were the only ones who no longer had an exit door – all the other pods had simply moved to the door below their starting position. I couldn’t help thinking, if the cable breaks and we plummet down, all the other pods will land on top of us. We were left there for several minutes, with no announcement made about what was happening. Eventually, we came down without further incident. A very memorable event. I would definitely do it again, especially if I could be guaranteed more of those wordy kids.
I grew up in STL and was a teenager when the arch was being build. I lived on 21st Street and my friends and I would go down to the riverfront and watch them building it. Been up it numerous times and always amazes me. What most people don’t know the arch can sway 16feet however you never notice it do to the size and height.
The Arch is an amazing thing to view, travel up and down in too. My one visit there the day was grey, overcast with drizzle rain. The wind picked up as we we in the museum and waiting to ascend. By the time we reached the top the gust were 25-30 mph. The Arch…SWAYS! WOW! I thought we were heading for the Mississippi River. I had to restrain the little girl scream that was trying to come out…OF ME. Loved it all. Thanks for the memory.
I haven’t been up there since I was a kid. I remember being scared as hell because the elevator cars felt like they should be on a carnival ride instead of a monument. Paint up tops different too. I remember it being more gray and brown in that cool blue and yellow scheme. I’ll have to make the trip back up once everything starts opening again
Appreciate this in depth review of even how the tram behaves, seriously! I have a thing about roller coasters or anything that moves around a lot (don’t do so hot on planes either) and was nervous how an elevator worked on an arch… I think I should be fine, might be more on edge on the way down… 🥺
I and my wife went up there while visiting friends near Bethalto, Illinois in the early 2000’s. It was in January, so it was cold, and there was some snow on the ground. It was very interesting and fun. We also went to a riverboat nearby that was on the Missouri side, called the President casino, as I remember it. We were back visiting our friends in Winter another year when they had the Lewis and Clark reenactment with Keel boats on the river by Ft Dubois, and the Father of the husband we were visiting was a player on one of the Keel boats, on the river. We also visited a nearby museum to see a Keel boat and other historic items there.
I’ve done it several times. I’m claustrophobic and terrified of heights. Looking down from the top is horrifyingly awesome and when it sways omg. But I’m older now. I’m afraid my anxiety would make it unbearable nowadays. I also recall the cars feeling much more egg like and smaller when I was a kid. I went up about 10 years ago and they seemed bigger even then..
Hey, thanks for making this article. I’ve passed there several times in xcountry trips but never went inside because I didn’t understand you could go to the top. (I kinda knew it was possible, but figured it was very limited access.) Next time we pass there, I will send my wife and kids up. I may not be able to survive the trip (claustrophobia). 🙂
my sweat and blood was inside the lettering for the Casino Queen. I cut and fit almost all the lettering into the sign face, both building façade and the huge 2 legged marquee sign. Man, that was a lifetime ago… My ex fiance and I were lining up permission ( because you can get it from the parks dept ) to have a quick nuptials ceremony up there in the top of the Arch. Whew… dodged a bullet there. Great article!
Ive lived 20 minutes away my whole life and ive never been to the top. Every time ive tried to go its been closed for maintenance or something. Funny story though my dad and a group of his friends in the early 80’s conned their way into being allowed to walk up the stairs by saying they were some kind of engineering students (too be fair one of them was). Doubt you could do that nowadays
I went up in that arch many times on the various field trips and band competition trips throughout my childhood. As a kid I didn’t give it a second thought, even the swaying that can be felt when you’re at the top didn’t scare me. Never occurred to me to be afraid. I was more fascinated with the outside being metal and looking at how it was constructed (funny thing, when I grew up I became a certified welder! Lol) but now?? Nah. Don’t think I would be so quick to hop in the Mork pod to the top to lean forward in the swaying nightmare to peer out the windows!
That was great! I’ve always wondered what the Arch looked like inside and from atop. now I know thanks you your article/effort. nice job of reporting and letting us look over your shoulder. I’m senior and retired and never would have the time or money to go see for myself so this meant a lot to me you made my day. thanks for doing it and thanks for sharing.
I live about 25 miles south of The Gateway Arch, IMO it’s the best place to get a good over view of the STL, Mo area short of a plane or a chopper ride, you could get a chopper ride there at the river front below The Gateway Arch but even though I’m only 25 miles away I’ve not been up to it in 20 plus years so I don’t know if those chopper tours are even a thing anymore but they was fun back in the day.
You are actually PAYING €€€ $$$ for this “experience?” Oh my, my….. :face-fuchsia-wide-eyes: Anyhow, there is such a thing as metal fatigue. Also metal contracts and expands as temperatures change. So, there is no way in hell and back I would take this death ride. However, I did see stairs, can you perhaps scale the stairs up and down, or do you must take the crazy carriage?
Haven’t been up there since I was 10. My family took a trip to Missouri back in August 2002 and my dad and I went to the top of the arch. My mom and brother stayed at the bottom due to my mom’s fear of heights. Still have the photos I took from the top. After a few days in St. Louis, we headed to Branson. It sure was a fun vacation for me.
Great article !! Living in North Carolina I always wanted to visit St Louis and the arch but no luck just yet. I would love to time it to see the Braves play the Cardinals in baseball and make a weekend of it. We shall see…..Your article was very insightful and I appreciate the added commentary on what all you could see
This reminds me of going down into a gold mine in Cripple Creek, Colorado, except this is positively luxurious by comparison. As I recall, we got 12 people into an elevator car no bigger than that. All standing, faces pressed against the sides, etc. I first heard about this from a girl in 6th grade who was from SL. I didn’t believe her that you could go up inside. From the ground, it looks like it’s only about 2 feet wide.
It was around 95-96 when I went up that as a kid. I didn’t want to at first because it scared me, but realizing that I’d be the only one in my family left on the ground, that scared me more so I went with them lol. Glad I did and wouldn’t mind going back up again to see if I would like it any better now that I’m older.
The show me state,, never been in it or seen it close, if i go by it,,i will then,, i was in one of the twin tour,, all the way to the top.. it was very unforgetable moments in my life,, to this day i can not believes that they r gone from an air plane,, u can land few of them on the roof,. I think going in the arch will b unforgetable,, as in niagarra falls where the water comes from canada to your lake,,i hope someday i will go to the arch,, i thought it was a metallic monsters,, that thing is a show me state thing
In 1970 I was there with my parents I was a teenager, and I had a huge fight with my mom in the lobby because I was not going up in the pods they had at the time. My mother was so mad at me well when they came down my mother told me she thought she was going to lose her mind in that pod because it was so small.