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Gateway Arch

On Saturday, March 10th in the year 2001, The Adventure Group visited St Louis and the Gateway Arch on their way out west. The following is their pictorial account and written report of that experience.

Our Trip Report
Trip five began at midnight on Saturday morning, March the 10th. Our cross country trek would cover nine state, five of which we would visit extensively. About eight hours into our journey, we drove in to St Louis. On a whim, we decided to stop to see the Gateway Arch. After driving around the city for a bit, we got out and walked to the arch itself. It is an overwhelming structure, particularly the closer you are. At over 650 feet, it is the tallest structure in the city. The elevators and underground attractions open at 9:30 on Saturdays, so we grabbed some breakfast at a St. Louis Hardee's. After eating, we headed back to the arch. Fifteen minutes after it opened, it was already bustling with tourists. We purchased ride tickets for $7.00 a piece and got in line for the elevator. We waited about ten minutes and then boarded the rickety elevator to the top. Each car seats five people, and it is a cramped ride to the top. A claustrophobic person would not do well here. The top is a small arc-shaped hallway with a dozen or so small windows that face downward. From one side of the arch, one can see the Mississippi River. From the other side, the city of St Louis is visible. We stayed up top for about 15 minutes, and then rode the elevator back down to the base. There are some other attractions there as well including a western expansion museum exhibit and a gift shop. After purchasing the obligatory souvenirs, we got in the car and headed west.

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