In 1764, European explorers Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent, Auguste Chouteau and Pierre Laclède charted the territory for France. They established the settlement as a fur trading post, naming it in homage to the sainted French King Louis IX. As an age of imperial rivalry unfolded, St. Louis transferred twice between French and Spanish rule before being acquired by the United States as part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. Shortly thereafter, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark launched their legendary voyage to the Pacific from the burgeoning outpost.

St. Louis emerged as a bustling 19th century port, becoming the nation’s fourth largest city from 1870–1920. It hosted the 1904 World’s Fair and Summer Olympic Games, welcoming technological marvels and cultural exhibits from across the globe. Long past its population peak, present-day St. Louis still actuates over $160 billion in economic output as of 2017. The regional economy maintains dynamism and diversity with cornerstone sectors like biomedical sciences, financial services, higher education and transportation logistics. From ancient civilizations to recent innovations, St. Louis has been shaped by its past while transforming towards a promising future.

Park Entrance

Park visitors 16 and up pay the $3.00 entrance fee; the entrance fee is waived for visitors 15 and under. On Fee Free Days, periodically throughout the year, the $3.00 park entrance fee may be waived. Gateway Arch visitors must enter the monument through the new west entrance, facing the Old Courthouse Gateway Arch and Fourth Street.

The tram ride to the top of the arch

Pre-Boarding Tour & Top of the Arch. (45-60 minutes)

Adults $15 – $19

Children (3–15) $11 – $15

A Video Tour to the Top

Tickets to ride the tram to the top often sell out, so we suggest you reserve your spot in advance online.

Gateway to the West Museum Entrance

Free

Monument to the Dreams Documentary Film (35 minutes)

Adults $7; Children (3–15) $3

How do I get into the Gateway Arch National Park?

A new west entrance faces Fourth Street and the Old Courthouse, where all visitors must enter. The Gateway Arch legs have become exits only. A note on accessibility: Approaching from the west, all walking paths onto the Arch grounds from the City are open.

The arch tram is not fully accessible, but a simulation with a live feed from the top is available to those with para-ability.

Other FAQs about the Gateway Arch

What is the purpose of the Gateway Arch?

Eero Saarinen, a Finnish-born, American-educated architect, designed the Gateway Arch. It was built to commemorate President Thomas Jefferson’s purchase of Louisiana in 1803 and to show how important St. Louis was in the rapid westward expansion that followed.

Can you go inside the Gateway Arch?

Yes, you can go to the top of the Gateway Arch on foot. As a rule, you must be able to climb at least six flights of stairs for at least 96 steps to get to the top and back down again. You may need to stand for 30–60 minutes to do this. There are no seats or public toilets at the top of the Arch.

What else is there to do besides climbing the Arch?

The Museum at the Gateway Arch is a great place to visit. It is a museum of westward expansion, detailing America’s move into the frontier. There is also a documentary film available for viewing.

Is the Gateway Arch the tallest monument?

In fact, the Gateway Arch is 630 feet tall, which makes it the tallest. The Arch is over twice as high as the Statue of Liberty and 75 feet taller than the Washington Monument.

How much does it cost to go up in the Gateway Arch?

As of 2022, ticket prices for the Arch now vary depending on the day of the week. If you want to go inside the arch, the basic weekend price is $12-16 for adults and $8-12 for kids under 15. This is less if you have a National Park Passport.

Has anyone died on the Arch?

There has only been one death linked to the Gateway Arch. Kenneth Swyers leapt from a plane and tried to BASE-jump to the ground from the top of the arch in 1980 died during this attempt. No one died while the Arch was constructed.

Can you see the Gateway Arch from a highway or road?

Yes, the Gateway Arch is visible from the road. The best views of the arch can be found by taking 44/55 North/East from south STL, or by taking 70/44 South/East from north STL, or by taking 64 East from west STL.

Is there a tram weight limit for the Gateway Arch?

There is no weight limit to ride the tram. You can ride the trams at any age or weight. A tram car that takes you both up and down. Previously, the four Saint Louis Rams pro football linemen all went to the top in one tram car. Shaquille O’Neil has also been to the top of the Arch by riding the tram.

Does the Gateway Arch light up at night?

Yes, the Gateway Arch lights up at night. It’s a beautiful site. A new, improved lighting system was installed in 2018. The National Park Service turns the Arch lights off during migratory bird seasons for two weeks, typically around early May and in late September.

Does the Arch sway?

The Arch, by design, may sway up to 18 inches and can withstand an earthquake; however, it does not sway in typical conditions. A 50-mile-per-hour wind is required to shift the top a mere 1 1/2 inches on each side of the center, and it’s designed to stand winds over 150 mph.

Is Gateway Arch the smallest national park?

Yes. Gateway Arch National Park is the smallest designated national park, of all the National Park System 400 sites, measuring just over 90 acres. The park is a true urban sanctuary in the heart of the city.

Who does the Gateway Arch honor?

The Gateway Arch commemorates St. Louis’ involvement in the United States’ Westward Expansion in the nineteenth century. The park honors Thomas Jefferson’s role in opening the West, as well as the pioneers who helped create the region’s history and Dred Scott, who sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse.

Can babies go up into the St. Louis Arch?

Yes. You can visit the Arch with a baby. The infant will need to be held during the tram ride (down to the load zone – into the tram cars – and up to the observation area at the top). Strollers must remain at the load zone entrance because no wheels are allowed at the top.

Is the St. Louis Arch okay for someone with claustrophobia?

The Gateway Arch experience might not be for you if you have claustrophobia. The tram ride up is in a small pod with 4 people for 4 minutes. They fill the tram pod to capacity, even with people you may not know. At the top of the arch, there can be a crowd of 140 people during peak hours.

However, for those not liking small, confined spaces, the Arch grounds can be enjoyed without entering the actual structure. There is also a large museum to visit.

Is the St. Louis Arch as wide as it is tall?

The Arch is equally wide and tall. The Arch is 630 feet wide and 630 feet tall. (192 meters in both width and height). It is the world’s tallest arch and Missouri’s tallest accessible building.

How long did the Arch take to build and when was it completed. ?

It took construction crews 2.5 years to complete the Arch and they began on February 12, 1963.

Is the Gateway Arch a national monument?

Yes, the Gateway Arch Park is part of the National Park Service in St. Louis, Missouri, near the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s starting point. It is also supported by the Gateway Arch Park Foundation.

How do I get into the Gateway Arch National Park?

A new west entrance faces Fourth Street and the Old Courthouse where all visitors must enter. The Gateway Arch legs have become exits only. A note on accessibility: Approaching from the west, all walking paths onto the Arch grounds from the City are open.

Is there food available in the Gateway Arch National Park?

The Arch Café, located in the Arch tram lobby, has a truly St.Louis inspired menu, including ribs, hamburgers, panini sandwiches, toasted ravioli, and vegetarian and gluten-free options.

The Saint Louis Zoo | Things to see in St Louis

The Saint Louis Zoo is home to more than 14,000 animals and nearly 500 different species. It is known around the world for its innovative approaches to animal management and care, wildlife conservation, education, and research. The Saint Louis Zoo is one of the few free zoos in the country, and it draws about 3 million visitors each year with exhibits like Big Cat Country, Penguin and Puffin Coast, and multiple aviary exhibits to let guests experience visits with many birds.

The Zoo Contains Six Unique Sections

At the River’s Edge

River’s Edge is home to a diverse collection of animals from four continents: South America, South America, the Savannah and Nile of Africa, and Asia. North America features fish and wildlife and features fish from the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, including crayfish, American bullfrogs, channel catfish, gar, and bluegill. Bush dogs,  bush dogs, capybaras, scarlet macaws, and giant anteaters are on display in the South America exhibit. Black rhinoceroses, African wild dogs, African sacred ibises,red river hogs, bat-eared foxes, and a colony of Southern carmine bee-eaters are on display in the African Savanna exhibit. Hippopotamuses, tilapia, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, and a dwarf mongoose colony are featured in the African Nile exhibit. Adult Asian elephants and sun bears are featured in the Asia exhibit.

Lakeside Crossing

Lakeside Crossing is located in the heart of the zoo and features a variety of food and shopping options, as well as a grassy plaza where visitors can relax. Additionally, it includes Caribbean Cove, a shallow touch pool located beneath a large pavilion and home to southern stingrays, cownose rays,  bonnethead sharks, and bamboo sharks. It is only open during the warmer months and is one of the few areas of the zoo that requires an admission fee.

Discovery Corner

Emerson Dinoroarus and the Bayer Insectarium are located in Discovery Corner. Prior to being replaced by Dinoroarus in 2021, the St. Louis Children’s Zoo featured numerous educational features, including a see-through slide through the otter pool and numerous birds, snakes, frogs, and other animals that volunteers and staff bring out for the children to observe up close. Dinoroarus is one of the Zoo’s few fee-based exhibits. Tasmanian devils are housed in this section as of March 2016.

The Wild

Grizzly Ridge, Polar Bear Point, Conservation Carousel, Fragile Forest, Jungle of the Apes, and Penguin and Puffin Coast are all located in The Wild. Polar Bear Point has a favorite animal friend, Kali, a polar bear. Huck and Finn, two grizzly bears, arrived in 2017 to celebrate the opening of Grizzly Ridge. The Fragile Forest and Jungle of the Apes are naturalized outdoor habitats for gorillas, chimps, and orangutans. The Penguin and Puffin Coast is home to a variety of water birds, including Emperor penguins, Magellanic penguins, rockhopper, gentoo, horned, tufted, and king eiders. Black-tailed prairie dogs and red pandas each have their own habitats in The Wild.

Historic Hill

The Bird House, Bird Garden, Sea Lion Sound, Herpetarium, Chain of Lakes, Flight Cage and Cypress Swamp, and Primate House are all located on Historic Hill. The Bird House is home to a variety of birds, including the rhinoceros hornbill, hyacinth macaw, bald eagle, burrowing owl, toco toucan, Cape thick-knee, golden pheasant, kookaburra, king vulture, Mariana fruit-dove, horned guan, superb starling, tawny frogmouth, Outdoor bird enclosures are located in the Bird Garden. Sea Lion Sound features an underwater tunnel where visitors can observe harbor seals and California sea lions and t  The herpetarium is home to a majority of the zoo’s reptiles and amphibians, which include the Chinese alligator, Jamaican iguana,  McCord’s box turtle, Panamanian golden frog, and Arakan forest turtle. Other species include the green anaconda, Komodo dragon,  mountain chicken, spotted turtle, false gharial, king cobra, Gila monster, frill-Aldabra giant tortoise, and necked lizard,  tuatara, reticulated python, tiger salamander, three-toed amphiuma, and pancake tortoise. The Chain of Lakes is a collection of small enclosures located between the Bird House and the Herpetarium and Primate House. It is home to the zoo’s North American river otters and alligator snapping turtles. At 228 feet (69 meters) long, 84 feet (26 meters) wide, and 50 feet (15 meters) high, the Flight Cage was the largest bird cage ever built in 1904 and remains one of the world’s largest free-flight aviaries to this day. The Cypress Swamp is dedicated to North American fowl found in the southern Mississippi River’s cypress swamps. Black-crowned night heron, blue-winged teal, cattle egret,  great egret, bufflehead duck, double-crested cormorant,  wood duck, northern bobwhite, roseate spoonbill, snowy egret, and American white ibis are among the birds in the aviary. The Primate House is where the zoo’s monkeys and lemurs are located. Coquerel’s sifaka,  Allen’s swamp monkey, golden-headed lion tamarin, lion-tailed macaque, pygmy marmoset, black-and-white colobus monkey, ring-tailed lemur, and white-faced saki are among the species represented.

Red Rocks

Big Cat Country and Antelope House are located in Red Rocks. Big Cat Country is home to a variety of large cat species.

The African lion, Amur tiger, Amur leopard, jaguar, cougar, and snow leopard are all represented. The addax, babirusa, Banteng, Grevy’s zebra, Bactrian camel, gerenuk, Indian muntjac, lesser kudu, okapi, reticulated giraffe, Speke’s gazelle, Somali wild ass, Sichuan takin, gorals, Transcapsian urial, Soemmerring’s gazelle, and Visayan warty pig are among the species present. The Red Rocks exhibit includes the marsupials red kangaroo and tammar wallaby, as well as several birds displayed alongside the ungulates, including the ostrich, Stanley crane, grey crowned crane, and Sarus Crane.

St Louis Zoo FAQs

Do you have to wear a mask at the Saint Louis Zoo?

Masks or face coverings must be worn inside for all guests over the age of five, even if they have been vaccinated. Currently, people who haven’t been fully vaccinated are required to cover their faces with masks or face coverings both in and outside.

Is the Saint Louis Zoo free?

The zoo is Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited, and general admission is free thanks to a cultural tax district, the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District (ZMD). Some special attractions require a fee, however, such as Stingrays at Caribbean Cove, or the Zooline Railroad.

Do you have to have reservations for St. Louis Zoo?

Currently, reservations are required, as the St. Louis Zoo is limiting attendance allow guests to practice good social distancing and not be too close to each other. Advance reservations can be made on the Zoo’s website.

Did the St Louis Zoo close?

The whole St. Louis Zoo will not close. There will continue to be free admission to the zoo, as has been the case for over 110 years, despite COVID-19. However, reservations are now required. The Children’s Zoo did close in 2020, but the rest of the Zoo is still open and available for visitors.

Is the St Louis zoo open year-round?

The Zoo is open daily year-round. Check the zoo’s website to check for special hours and make your reservation.

How long does it take to walk through the St Louis Zoo?

If you take the time to visit each exhibit area, you could spend anywhere from 4 to 7 hours at the zoo, if you take the time to read the posted information and observe the animals. If you are visiting with small children, you can of course skip a lot of the reading time, dropping your visit to about 2-5 hours.

Can you take your dog to the Zoo?

Dogs, cats, or other pets are not allowed at the SLZ unless they are service animals. However, even service animals are not allowed in the Cypress Swamp (1904 Flight Cage) or Antelope House. Comfort or emotional support dogs do not qualify as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and as such, are not permitted in the Zoo.

Is St Louis Zoo safe?

Provided guests follow posted instructions, the zoo is very safe. The exhibits, enclosures, and habitats are set up with safety in mind, and new policies have been implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The area the zoo is located, Forest Park, is also safe for travel to and from.

How much is food at the St Louis Zoo?

There are multiple options for food located on the zoo’s property. You can stop for ice cream, Dippin Dots, or at Pineapple Paradise for a smoothie for a cheaper way to cool off, or stop in at Cafe Kudu, Ray’s Snack Shack, or East Refreshments on Historic Hill for a place to sit down for a meal. Restaurants and meal options (and therefore, expected prices) can sometimes vary by season. If you don’t want to stress about food prices, you may bring in coolers and picnic baskets, and there are picnic areas throughout the zoo. Glass bottles, however, are prohibited.

How big is the Saint Louis Zoo?

There are 655 different kinds of animals at the Saint Louis Zoo, many of which are rare or endangered. It is spread out over 90 acres in Forest Park, where the St. Louis World’s Fair was held in 1904. It is one of the few free zoos in the country, and it has been named the best in the country by Zagat Survey’s U.S. Family Travel Guide and Parenting magazine.

How much is parking at the St Louis Zoo?

General parking is $10 per vehicle. Oversized vehicles that are under 24 feet cost $20 per vehicle and must park in the South lot. Check the zoo’s website to see which lots are open on the day you will be attending, or check for any changes to parking fees.