Standing at 630 feet tall, the Gateway Arch in St Louis, MO is also known as the Gateway to the West- marking the beginning of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Encased completely with stainless steel, the structure reflects the sun's rising and setting beautifully for onlookers.
Visitors can ride inside the monument on a number of trams that allow for them to see the interior of the structure, before stepping out onto the observation area at the very apex of the Arch. There, guests can take advantage of the generous view of both the St Louis skyline and Mississippi River.
The Arch is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, which means that a number of attractions are affixed to the site.
Visitors to the Gateway Arch may also enjoy the Museum of Westward Expansion, which tells the story of early America's migration into the West. Complete with re-enactors, the museum educates guests to this unique and monumental area of history.
At the Odyssey Theatre, viewers can enjoy the films featured there with giant screens and comfortable air-conditioned rooms.
The Levee Mercantile is located beneath the monument, and provides visitors with a rather unique shopping experience- the snacks and provisions that were popular during the 1800s. There are also other such old time items as beeswax candles, cookbooks, fabric, wooden toys, and tin bakeware.
Whether you're visiting the St Louis area, or a local who hasn't made it over yet, see the Gateway Arch!
