The Adventure of Riding to the Top of the St. Louis Gateway Arch

Glancing up at the St. Louis Gateway Arch can be dizzying. Its 43,000 tons of stainless steel rise above to form a 630 foot catenary curve. At the very top of the arch awaits an observation deck. The windows are rectangular and provide views to the West and East over St. Louis. This observation deck is the ultimate photographer's vantage point when trying to photograph St. Louis at night or on any clear day. (Photographs of the arch's exterior, the tram itself, and downtown St. Louis are also available.)

The St. Louis Arch is a part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. It is open most days of the year. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day its hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and other dates are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In 2010 the cost to ride the tram to the top was $10 for adults and $5 for children.

When entering the memorial, visitors pass through a metal detector and purchase tickets indoors. The memorial lies underneath the arch and includes a free museum about America's Westward Expansion. The wait on a typical summer Saturday is long, so plan accordingly. In August, 2010, visitors waited two hours for their tram to the top of the arch.

After purchasing a tram ticket, memorial visitors report to either the North or South tram entrance within ten minutes of their scheduled time. Upon entering the tram area, each person receives a capsule assignment. Large groups must split up, as each capsule seats five people. Those with claustrophobia may want to sit this one out, as the capsules are less than six feet tall.

As a normal elevator would not work in an arch, the tram itself resembles a caterpillar. Each segment consists of a well lit capsule or pod with five seats and a rounded ceiling. The door contains a window, but the window does not show the outdoors. Rather, the window allows guests to see the inner workings and emergency staircase of the arch as it ascends or descends. The ride itself takes about four minutes, with trams leaving every ten minutes. To help the time pass without fear, visitors often chat among themselves and discover new friends from across the country or around the world.

Upon arriving near the top of the St. Louis Arch, the trams are still slightly down each side. After exiting the tram, visitors walk up a few steps to the observation room. A park ranger welcomes visitors and reminds them to stand to the side so people wishing to enter the trams can leave. Visitors are allowed to stay at the top of the arch as long as the memorial remains open. Yet, as more people arrive, the pressure to share a window with newcomers often pushes people to leave in a brief stay.

The trip to the top of the St. Louis Gateway Arch is definitely worth the price and the wait, as long as one can survive a potential case of claustrophobia.

What are your experiences with the St. Louis Gateway Arch? Have you ever been to the memorial or traveled to the top of the arch? Please comment below!

Sources:

Enchanted Learning
Gateway Arch Riverfront
Explore St. Louis