Partnerships make great things happen.

 This July, you’ll witness the completion of an incredible transformation that connects the Gateway Ach to downtown St. Louis and vastly improves the Arch visitor experience – all thanks to the $380 million CityArchRiver project, $90 million of which came from sales tax revenue from the passage of Proposition P in 2013 and $221 million of which came from private donations, almost entirely from the St. Louis community and representing the largest private investment ever made in a U.S. national park.

We’ve always been proud of the majestic monument gracing our skyline, and in 2018 it’s getting a fittingly memorable setting and supporting visitor experience to match it. We can’t wait to show you all the exciting changes. Here’s a small taste of what you can expect when you visit in 2018:

A reimagined Museum at the Gateway Arch. Opening in July, the newly improved museum provides an interactive, accessible and immersive look at the westward expansion of the U.S. and the important role St. Louis played. You’ll be able to explore six thematic exhibit areas that trace St. Louis’ history from the French Colonial period in the 1600s to the construction of the Arch in the 1960s and beyond. Visitors can explore a full-sized French Colonial house and replica covered wagon, take a peek at tools and clothing of real explorers of the early 1800s, learn about how the idea of Manifest Destiny changed the continent and impacted American Indians and people settling the West, learn about the St. Louis riverfront in its busy 1800’s heyday, see surviving design boards from the Arch design competition, and so much more!

An expanded visitor center. The visitor center connects the Arch directly to downtown St. Louis for the first time and has a brand-new west-facing entrance. Besides the reimagined museum, the visitor center also now includes an education area for the National Park Service’s interpretive programming and events. In the mezzanine area, visitors can explore a gigantic floor map of the U.S. that details rivers and historic westward trails.

Revitalized park grounds. What’s a trip to the Gateway Arch without a walk through the park and a visit to the Mississippi riverfront? The CityArchRiver project created 11 acres of new park space, including 5.4 miles of new pathways for biking and recreation raised the downtown riverfront to reduce flooding and provide a revitalized home for the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch. The park also now includes new children’s play areas and a 7.5-acre garden and natural amphitheater – an unforgettable spot for events and performances. 

We can’t wait to see you in 2018!