Every year, millions of visitors from across the globe travel to Gateway Arch National Park to take the iconic tram ride to the top. Along the way, they get unforgettable experiences like loading into the space-age tram cars, slowly climbing 630 feet skyward, and seeing the stretching St. Louis skyline for the first time. These classic moments capture the magic of the ride, but they don’t encapsulate the true first impression our visitors encounter on their way to the top.

That moment takes place in the Museum at the Gateway Arch.

In 2018, the Museum at the Gateway Arch was reimagined as part of the $380M CityArchRiver Project, which also renovated the park grounds, visitor center, Old Courthouse, riverfront, and Kiener Plaza. Construction on the Visitor Center and Museum lasted more than three years and resulted in six world-class galleries covering more than 200 years of history about the westward expansion of the United States and the paramount role St. Louis played in that era.

The new exhibits not only built upon the history of westward expansion, but also introduced new experiences to immerse visitors in a story spanning from the founding of St. Louis in 1764 to the completion of the Gateway Arch in 1965. Universally designed with interactive galleries, tactile elements, and digital storytelling, the Museum was transformed into an integral part of every visit to the Arch.

Traversing the six state-of-the-art galleries is critical for understanding the context behind the illustrious tram ride to the top. Why is the Arch in St. Louis? How did westward expansion lead to the United States we know today? Who led these journeys? What was gained and lost along the way? The answers to these questions are laid out amongst the comprehensive installations and hands-on activities. As visitors step inside a French colonial home, press their hands against buffalo hide, smell the fumes of a deadly cholera outbreak, and hand-crank model tram cars slowly to the top of a replica Arch, their journey to the observation deck takes on deeper meaning.

Every year, just as millions of visitors take the tram ride to the top, they also spend time touching, moving, and feeling these exhibit elements. With a high volume of traffic and the natural wear-and-tear from frequent interaction, our park partners quickly determined that routine maintenance was necessary to preserve the visitor experience at the Museum. Enter Gateway Arch Park Foundation.

In a unique arrangement, Gateway Arch Park Foundation provides ongoing maintenance and innovation for the Museum at the Gateway Arch’s exhibits. This arrangement, active since the Museum was completed in 2018, is the first ongoing, regular maintenance agreement with a national park. In fact, this is one of many Foundation projects that sets a national precedent for how park conservancies can enhance visitor experiences and is a key reason why the Museum at the Gateway Arch continues to maintain accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums.

Since 2020, approximately 35 museum repair visits have been conducted, with regular maintenance completed on the replica keystone, interactive tram car model, ‘Clark’s Guided Tour’ software, riverboat and train model motors, and dozens of other critical museum elements. Additionally, the Foundation funds remote Wi-Fi and IT support for electronic elements throughout the Museum. 

This maintenance, which is crucial to maintaining a world-class visitor experience, is made possible by generous supporters like you.

Become a Gateway Arch Park Foundation member today and help preserve the Museum’s stories, exhibits, and interactive experiences for millions of future visitors.