Lake Michigan sunset at Indiana Dunes National Park.
The gorgeous span of the New River Bridge.
Louisiana Purchase of 1803. It was renamed Gateway Arch National Park through federal legislation to better reflect the nature of the park—one that is widely associated with its landmark 630-foot-tall stainless-steel arch designed by neo- futuristic Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen. Completed in 1965, it remains the world’s tallest arch. Improvements resulting from the project include a new entrance into the arch, an expanded and updated museum and sweeping landscape revisions Most notable of the upgrades is the new entrance into the arch and museum that extends underground beneath the structure—a westward facing curved glass crescent that draws natural light into the museum space. The expanded museum now totals nearly 150,000 square feet. Its exhibits trace the history of St. Louis from its beginning as a French fur trading outpost to the present day. Visitors are greeted by a high-definition video experience that has them facing a charging herd of buffalo, followed by a ride on a paddle-wheeler churning along the Missouri River, and a wagon train rumbling across the plains. A floor map outlines the Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi Rivers, pinpointing the historic and geographic
connections of St. Louis to the waterways that opened the West. A highlight for most visitors is a tram ride to the top of the 630-foot-tall arch. The 45-minute ride ($14-16 adults) is a bit clunky but, once at the top, the view over both river and city is spectacular. The most significant change to the grounds is an expansive greenway land bridge that stretches from the arch over Interstate 44 to the Old Courthouse. The 1839 Greek Revival-style courthouse gained national attention as the setting for trials that heard the Dred Scott case on issues of slavery in 1847 and 1850. The courthouse had always been part of the park complex, serving as its visitor center, but until the renovation project it was separated from the arch by the interstate, complicating passage between the two sites. Traffic now flows beneath the greenway and the entire park complex is now conveniently connected to downtown St. Louis. (Note: Old Courthouse is currently closed for renovation.) Many other improvements have been made to the grounds. Nearly 2,400 trees have been added along with additional walking and biking paths. A rolling 7 1/2-acre park crisscrossed with pathways has replaced an unsightly multi-story parking garage that once stood at the north end of the park’s Mississippi riverfront. www.nps.gov/jeff, 314-655-1600
AMERICA’S NEWEST NATIONAL PARKS
COAST TO COAST FALL MAGAZINE 2021
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