Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States and officially dedicated to "the American people", the Arch, commonly referred to as "The Gateway to the West", is a National Historic Landmark in Gateway Arch National Park.
The Gateway Arch was designed by the Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in 1947. Construction began on February 12, 1963, and was completed on October 28, 1965, at an overall cost of $13 million. The monument opened to the public on June 10, 1967. The iconic Gateway Arch offers a one-of-a-kind tram ride 630 feet to the top for incredible views stretching 30 miles in every direction.
The Museum under the Gateway Arch has six interactive galleries that delve into more than 200 years of shared St. Louis and American history.
Gateway Arch National Park offers 91 acres of green space, with 5 miles of paved paths.
The Old Courthouse in St. Louis is one of the oldest free-standing buildings in the downtown area. As the first part of Gateway Arch National Park, it was the site of the pivotal Dred Scott cases in 1847 and 1850 and the Virginia Minor case in 1872.