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The Sights and Sounds of Gateway Arch National Park
There’s a moment, standing beneath the steel curve of the Gateway Arch, when you realize you’re standing at the confluence of history, architecture, and nature. Gateway Arch National Park may be the smallest national park in the country at just 91 acres, but what it packs into that space is nothing short of extraordinary.
The Arch itself is the undeniable star. At 630 feet tall, it’s the tallest monument in the entire Western Hemisphere. In fact, visitors at the top can see up to 30 miles away on a clear day! The Arch frames the St. Louis skyline, lines the mighty Mississippi River, and stands as a monument to the immense history of America's westward expansion.
For those not from St. Louis, the Arch may very well be the only thing they think of when they imagine our city. But for those of us who have traversed its grounds, we know just how much more there is to explore.
This park is alive. The river breeze rustles through the tall trees that line its five miles of pathways. Local grasses sway back and forth, dancing to the bird calls that echo against rolling hills. At the right moment, the sunlight glistens off the edge of the Arch’s legs and shines perfectly in your direction. Listen long enough and you’ll soon hear the passing footsteps of hundreds of visitors, the booming horn of a riverboat returning to its dock, or maybe even the distant call of a freight train rolling through the park grounds. This place is an oasis amongst our industrialized city, but those of us who know it well do not come here for an escape. We come to remind ourselves of the beauty contained in the space between the urban and the natural.
Gateway Arch National Park is St. Louis. And if you haven’t been here recently, here’s your reminder to come back soon.
If you’re looking for a reason to visit this incredible park, then join us for the Sixth Annual Picnic in Your Park on Sunday, June 7th! Picnic in Your Park is our marquee annual fundraiser supporting our mission to provide community programming, preservation, education, and conservation efforts at Gateway Arch National Park - the very efforts that keep this place vibrant and thriving. Attendees will enjoy a delicious, catered picnic lunch alongside live music, yard games, guided tours, and more.
Basket sales close on Friday, May 29th, at 11:59 PM, so be sure to reserve your basket while you have the chance!