We rolled into St. Louis West/Route 66 KOA on April 17, 2023, and spent the rest of the day on grocery shopping, other chores, and planning our next day at Gateway Arch National Park.

Gateway Arch National Park

I remember my grandmother sending me a postcard of the Arch while she and my grandfather were on vacation one year. I’ve wanted to see it in person ever since.

With our reserved tickets in hand, we waited outside the entrance for our turn to board. Claustrophobic vibes ran through me when I saw the five seats crammed into a small bubble of a capsule.

It took about four minutes to reach the top, where, one by one, the eight capsules emptied. Our cabin mates debarked first. One guy was around 6’4”, the other guy may be 5’9”. Jon, 6’2”, exited, and then I, the shortest person at 5’3”, conked my head, getting through the door. Dang, that hurt.

We made our way to the tippy top, where we found a fabulous view. Standing atop the tallest structure in Missouri at 630 feet, we had a nearly 360-degree line of sight.

There was the St. Louis baseball stadium, the Old Courthouse, and downtown area on one side of the Arch.

From the other side of the Arch and across the Mississippi River, trees, bridges, barges, a railyard; and the Draft Kings Casino and Cargill barge loading facility came into view.

Ten minutes later, the docents ushered us back to the capsules and told us to wait for the occupants to unload before taking our seats. We laughed when the five men exited our capsule. Each man—weighed down with commercial cameras, booms, or sound equipment—emerged like a dozen clowns unfolding themselves from a Volkswagen. And not one of them bumped their head.

After the tram ride, we watched the 35-minute documentary film, “Monument to the Dream.” The movie showed the building process, including the sinking of the foundations 60 feet into the ground, and placing the last section in the top middle of the Arch.

Here are a few facts about the Arch:

• Completed in 1965, it was built with an 18-inch sway allowance to withstand high winds and earthquakes
• Composed of only 91 acres, Gateway Arch National Park is the smallest of all national parks.
• At 630 feet, it is the tallest artificial monument in the United States
• It weighs 43,220 pounds
• Six ½” by 20” lightning rods protect it during storms, and aircraft lighting warns pilots

Besides the Arch, the park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson’s role in opening the West and to the pioneers who helped shape its history.

We passed on exploring the Museum of Western Expansion because busloads of students had arrived. The museum features the History of the American West, the Lewis and Clark Boat House, and the Nature Center. Across the street is the Old Courthouse, also a part of the park.

I thought we’d get a chance to tour the Old Courthouse, but a major renovation and upgrade of the building were underway. The National Park Service and Gateway Arch Park Foundation partnered to fund the $24.5 million dollar investment. The courthouse is known for the Dred Scott Decision, among other freedom suits. For those who may be interested in seeing photos of the renovation, go to the Gateway Arch National Park website.

Riverboat Cruise on the Becky Thatcher

A riverboat cruise on the Mississippi sounded interesting, and we were just in time to catch the boat. I don’t remember much about the narration, but the photos below triggered a few bits and pieces once supplemented with research.

Barges on the Illinois side of the river carry agricultural commodities and construction materials. One barge can transport the equivalent of 60 truckloads of goods.

A towboat, or push boat, can move up to 15 barges at a time on the Mississippi River.

I kept my eye on the building in the next photo as we crept toward it. Constructed in 1902 in the Beaux-Arts style, I’m sure at one time someone thought the building beautiful. Words like suspense, thriller, torture, horror, and brutalism came to mind when I saw it close up. The Ashley Street Power House joined St. Louis City’s Landmark list at #46 in 1971. As far as I can tell, the powerhouse still generates thermal energy co-generation to provide steam for heating 70 downtown buildings.

The Four Seasons Resort-Style Hotel where rates start at $472 is a prominent structure downtown. I guess the State of California isn’t the only state struggling to house the unhoused.

Draft Kings Casino in East St. Louis, Illinois, celebrated their 30-year anniversary in June of 2023. The Riverboat Casino took its maiden voyage on June 23, 1993. Construction of the hotel on land began in 1998 and opened in January 2000.

Next up: We’ll finish our time in St. Louis with a visit to Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site and a quick visit with our niece and her family.

Safe Travels