Gateway Arch National Park / Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
This is the Gateway Arch in St. Louis that rises 630 feet into the sky. Its stainless-steel curve is striking as it frames the city behind it and reflects the light that changes with the time of day.
This monument is a symbol. It represents the westward expansion of the United States, marking St. Louis as the historic “Gateway to the West”. From here, explorers, settlers and expeditions moved outward, into territory that would shape the country’s future.
Completed in 1965, the Arch was designed by architect Eero Saarinen, who envisioned something modern, bold and lasting. Its clean sweeping form stands in contrast to the more traditional monuments, yet it carries the same purpose: to remember and to define.
The site became part of the National Park System in 1935, when it was established as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This preserves the historic significance of this location along the Mississippi River. In 2018, it was redesignated as Gateway Arch National Park, giving it full national park status.
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