The Gateway Arch

The story

The trip to the top runs in small, sci-fi-looking pods that seat a handful of people: about four minutes up, three down, and roughly ten minutes at the observation area. From there the Mississippi lies on one side, with the Old Courthouse, the cathedral, the stadium and the park grounds on the other. A window on the way up shows the stairs and internal structure. Below ground, the museum, refurbished in 2018, covers westward expansion across six galleries, including Native American perspectives, and a virtual reality theater recreates the 1850s riverfront. Outside, 91 acres of national park hold reflection ponds, gardens and paths, where you can walk up and touch the steel cladding. The free Old Courthouse nearby tells the story of the Dred and Harriet Scott trials.