A Sneak Peek at the New Gateway Arch National Park
If you've been to St. Louis, you've probably been to the Arch. It is quintessential and completely linked to the identity of that city. It's a gorgeous piece of modern design and the tallest monument in the US. It's also a place most locals don't really think to visit without an out of town guest they want to show off to. The only time I went and rode to the top was during a visit before I moved to St. Louis. It was hot and the line was really long and it seemed like something I didn't need to do more than once. And if not for an invitation to tour the newly renovated (and not yet completed) museum, I probably wouldn't have – but I'm glad I did.
The folks at Gateway Arch Park Foundation invited local social media managers to preview the space ahead of its opening on July 3. The invitation fell right before my last day of work and it felt right to see the Arch one more time before leaving St. Louis.
The renovation is pretty incredible. The museum has been overhauled and the new exhibits look great. The space is broken down into six areas that explore different eras from St. Louis's founding to today. Greater attention is paid to St. Louis itself and the area on which the Arch was built. There are plenty of touch screens to help convey information in an interactive way and many of the exhibits have small tactile representations to accommodate visitors with limited sight.
But the most striking change is the entrance itself. Instead of queuing up outside to try to get through security before passing into an underground bunker, you will soon be able to enter into a light-filled lobby. The entrance is a straight walk from the Old Courthouse and the curved wall of the new entrance is glass, giving you a great view of the park. It's a seamless and pleasant experience and it looks really beautiful. If the space had been this way when I paid my first visit, maybe I wouldn't have been so hesitant to return.
As much as things have changed at the Arch, some things haven't – I was glad to hop in the tram one more time and experience that retro-future piece of engineering before checking out the city's best vista.
You can get more info to plan your own trip to the Gateway Arch at gatewayarch.com.