National Expansion Memorial
Jefferson
National Expansion Memorial consists of the Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward
Expansion, and St. Louis' Old Courthouse. During a nationwide competition in 1947-48,
architect Eero Saarinen's inspired design for a 630-foot stainless steel arch was chosen
as a perfect monument to the spirit of the western pioneers. Construction of the Arch
began in 1963 and was completed on October 28, 1965, for a total cost of less than $15
million. The Arch has foundations sunk 60 feet into the ground, and is built to withstand
earthquakes and high winds. It sways up to one inch in a 20 mph wind, and is built to sway
up to 18 inches. Fees are charged to ride the unique tram system to the top. Acreage:
90.96.
The
Museum of Westward Expansion, located below the Arch, is as large as a football field and
contains an extensive collection of artifacts, mounted animal specimens, an authentic
American Indian tipi, and an overview of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Located
just two blocks west of the Arch, the Old Courthouse is one of the oldest standing
buildings in St. Louis, begun in 1839. It was here that the first two trials of Dred Scott
for his freedom were held in 1847 and 1850. Today, the building houses a museum charting
the history of the city of St. Louis and restored courtrooms.
| VISITATION: | Over 3.5 million people visited Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in 1998. |
| LOCATION: | St. Louis, Missouri |
| ADDRESS: | 11 North 4th Street St. Louis, MO 63102 |
| TELEPHONE: | Arrangements for groups: (314) 655-1700 Information: (314) 655-1700 FAX: (314) 655-1641 |
| OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS: | The Old Courthouse is open daily from 8:00
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years day. Admission is free. The Gateway Arch and Museum of Westward Expansion are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Memorial day through Labor day (summer hours), and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. the remainder of the year (winter hours); closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years day. |
| CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING: | Summers are often hot and humid, with average temperatures in the high 80 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit; autumn and spring are mild and pleasant; winters are rarely harsh, with average temperatures about 30 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| DIRECTIONS: | Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is located in the heart of downtown St. Louis on the Mississippi River. Interstate Routes 44, 55, 64, and 70 converge near the park. Parking is available in the Arch Parking Garage on the north end of the park grounds on Washington Street, or at privately run surface lots and garages nearby. The Arch Parking Garage has a seven foot height restriction. A passenger drop-off area is available for visitors with mobility impairments near the Old Cathedral on Memorial Drive. |
| FEES, COSTS, RATES | The entrance fee is $2.00 per person, and no more than $4.00 per family. Separate fees are charged for tickets to see films and for the tram ride to the top of the Arch on a per-event basis. Free tours are given on a regular schedule, with times and subjects of tours posted each day at the entrance to the museum and the Old Courthouse. Tours usually last 45 minutes. Arrangements for groups can be made in advance by calling (314) 655-1700. |
| FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES: | Museum stores are located
in the Gateway Arch Visitor Center and the Old Courthouse Accessibility: A brochure on program and facility accessibility is available at the information desk or by mail. Three touch-screen computer/video kiosks, located in the lobby of the Gateway Arch, provide instant information on accessibility concerns. State-of-the-art techniques enable visitors with mobility impairments to take a video "trip to the top of the Arch" through this program. People with questions or concerns regarding accessibility should begin their visit at one of the kiosks. Wheelchairs are available for free loan on a first-come, first- served basis; inquire at the information desk. Accessible rest rooms are available. The observation deck at the top of the Arch is not wheelchair accessible. Audio enhancement headsets for interpretive programs are available at the Information Desk. Special accommodations for sight impaired visitors will be made for guided tours; inquire at the desk or call (314) 655-1700 for reservations. The film "Monument to the Dream" is open-captioned; a script is available at the theater entrance. Audio enhancement devices for the hearing impaired are available at the information desk for both films. Visitors may also wish to inquire about the availability of audio description services. Removable theater seats provide a viewing area in the new 70mm theater for wheelchair users. For access to the Old Courthouse, a wheelchair lift is located at the Broadway entrance on the west side of the building. A bell may be pressed for service. The museum galleries and rest rooms on the first floor of the Old Courthouse are fully accessible. Due to the nature of the historic building, stairs provide the only access to the restored courtrooms on the second floor. A computer/video kiosk in the north wing provides accessibility information and a "video trip to the top of the dome." A self-service video program about the Old Courthouse, with views of the courtrooms, is available on the first floor of the building. The film "Gateway to the West" is open-captioned, and audio-enhancement devices are also available. Visitors may borrow audio enhancement headsets for interpretive programs. In addition, special audio-taped tours of the Old Courthouse are available. |
| BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS: | A typical visit includes a tram ride to the
top of the Arch for a panoramic view of the St. Louis area; a screening of the film
"Monument to the Dream" which details the construction of the Arch;
participation in the new 70mm World Odyssey wide-screen theater, which shows films on a
four-story tall screen; and a visit to the Museum of Westward Expansion. Just two blocks west of the Arch, the Old Courthouse contains restored courtrooms, information on the Dred Scott case, and a museum charting the history of the city of St. Louis. |
| SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS: | African-American Heritage Month
is scheduled throughout the month of February, and focuses on the role of
African-Americans in the history of St. Louis and the western frontier. Musicians,
speakers, educational programs, and special exhibits are featured. "Dred Scott,
Slavery, & the Struggle to be Free" is on permanent exhibit at the Old Courthouse
in the rotunda. Recognizing Women's History Month at the Arch, an exhibit dealing with women's roles in history is featured in the Special Exhibit Gallery in the Museum of Westward Expansion every March. The exhibit for 1999 was entitled, "Frontier Army: Women of the West". Photos of this exhibit may be viewed in the Special Events and Exhibits page. Gary Hawk : Images of the West is an exhibit devoted to past and present scenes of the West. Each unique painting weaves its own tale as Mr. Hawk brings the magic of the outdoors to the canvas. Since 1976, Gary Hawk has devoted his life to the intriguing imagery of life in the West, while bringing us a little closer to nature through the use of watercolors. Share in the spirit of the Old West and life of the past as you view this exhibit from June 26 - October 21, 1999 in the Gateway Arch's Special Exhibit Gallery. The Gateway Arch is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from now through Labor Day and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. after Labor Day. St. Louis Storytelling Festival. Professional storytellers from across the country weave their tales at the Arch, Old Courthouse, and several other St. Louis locations every May. For further information, call the Continuing Education Department at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, (314) 516-5948. During the Festival, call (314) 516-6677. The Old Courthouse springs to life in patriotic colors for the annual Victorian July 4th Celebration, June 11 through August 9, 1999. The program includes extensive decorations, and over the July 4 weekend, music, speeches, and interpreters in period clothing. A Victorian Christmas is celebrated throughout the month of December at the Old Courthouse. Period decorations and Christmas trees, plus a regular program of concerts, bring a special holiday flair to downtown St. Louis. Holidays Around the World is sponsored by the National Park Service and the International Institute of Metropolitan St. Louis, and features an exhibit of holiday displays spotlighting the traditions of various cultures in the Gateway Arch complex. See this colorful display from December 5, 1999 through January 8, 2000 at the Gateway Arch Visitor Center. |
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