Gateway Arch National Park

The Gateway Arch National Park, formerly named Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, is a downtown St. Louis oasis. Amid the beautifully forested surroundings found within one of the few urban national parks west of the Mississippi River, visitors can discover diverse plant life that includes a number of native species.

As beautiful as the structure and surrounding area is, many people question, should it be a national park?

The 630-foot Gateway Arch is a marvel of modern engineering, by any standards.The arch sits on the banks of the Mississippi River and is meant to mark a location near where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark began and ended their two-year exploration (1804 to 1806) of the land acquired in the Louisiana Purchase, bought by President Thomas Jefferson just one year prior.The bill to redesignate the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial into Gateway Arch National Park was sponsored in 2017 by Roy Blunt, the state’s senior republican senator. But not a month later, he changed his mind and thought it should be named a National Monument like the Statue of Liberty.  The designation would not be changed and in 2018 this structure was named a National Park.

Since my life long goal is to visit and explore every U.S. National Park, who am I to argue with the designation.   I needed to visit to check it off my list. So unlike my normal week long adventures to a national park, this one was completed on a weekend visit to St. Louis.

I had a vision of capturing this beautiful monument at sunrise. Standing in front of The Old Courthouse where the Dred Scott case was held, I was facing east.  It was a freezing and breezy February morning. I was the only person up with the hopes of shooting a beautiful “landscape” shot of this structure.  Although my body was frozen, and I couldn’t wait to hike back to my warm hotel, I was rewarded with a spectacular sunset. The colors lit up the sky.  The massive structure reflecting the beautiful atmospheric light got my creative juices flowing. I was lucky and captured this amazing photograph.  

Should this be a national park? I do not think so.  The last thing I want to hear after watching a beautiful sunrise at a national park are horns honking, and a city full of people waking up.  Was it worth the visit? National park debate aside, 100% yes.  The tram to the top of the arch was amazing. The history behind the building of this monument was fascinating.   So make the trip. Check it off your list. 

Location: Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis, Missouri