Gateway Arch National Park

Parking and the City

One of interesting challenges is finding appropriate disabled parking that also fits our big truck. Especially when we go into an older city. This has been a common thread in Chicago and Washington DC to name a few. St. Louis was no exception.

Even with calling ahead and asking, we circled the Park and surrounding blocks a few times. Papa and Sidney ended up dropping off Richard and mama and then Sidney and I ended up parking on the Leeve by the Riverboats.

Visitor’s Center and Museum

We were surprised by level of Security to get into the Visitor’s Center and Museum under the bottom of the Gateway Arch. It was more invasive screen and rules then to visit the USS Constitution, which is an active US Navy warship complete with a US Navy SP guardstation. The screening was more inline with the TSA at an airport.

The Museum was great. It did a very good job of walking visitors through both the history and events leading up to the Oregon Trail and the history of the city and region. Sidney completed the Jr. Ranger Program and got his badges for both the Gateway Arch National Park and the Old Courthouse (which was closed for construction).

We were unable to go up into the Arch itself, unfortunately, because it is not wheelchair accessible and they do not allow strollers. So that was disappointing. Otherwise we enjoyed the museum and visitor center.

The Grounds

After exploring the visitor center we moved outside and explored the grounds of the park.