The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial was established in December of 1935 to commemorate St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, and as a memorial to Thomas Jefferson and his role in the Louisiana Purchase.
The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is part of the National Parks Service, and consists of three locations: The Gateway Arch, The Museum of Westward Expansion, and The Old Courthouse.
The Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch, often called the Gateway To The West, is one of the most recognized monuments in America. It is the tallest monument in the National Park system, more than twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty.
In 1947, architect Eero Saarinen entered a nationwide competition to design a monument for the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. His concept of a freestanding arch, symbolizing the gateway to westward expansion, was the winning design. Built on the banks of the Mississippi River, construction began in 1961 and completed in 1965. The stainless steel Arch is 630 feet tall, and spans 630 feet between the legs, and weighs over 17 thousand tons. The Arch supports are sunk 60 feet into the ground. On a still day, the Arch does not move, but was built to sway up to 18 inches in high winds, 9 inches in either direction. The Arch was also built to withstand earthquakes.
Two trams were constructed in 1967 & 1968 to take visitors to the top of the Arch. A tram ride to the top takes about 4 minutes to ascend either leg of the Arch at 4 miles per hour; and about 3 minutes to bring visitors back to ground level. There is an observation room at the top of the Arch where visitors can look out over the city and surrounding areas. There are 16 windows on each of the east and west sides of the observation room. You can observe the Mississippi River directly below the Arch on the east side. On a clear day, you can see approximately 30 miles in either direction. There are no restrooms or snack areas located at the top of the Arch, so make sure you use the facilities located in the lobby of the museum before you make your trip to the top.
At the base of the Arch is the Museum of Westward Expansion. This semi-circular museum starts with a statue of Thomas Jefferson, and continues with exhibits and artifacts of the 19th century pioneer days and the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
Explore the history of the American West in this museum on your own, or join one of the guided tours that occur throughout the day.
Two theaters are located at the museum. The Tucker Theater shows the documentary film, A Monument To The Dream, which depicts the construction of the Arch. The Odyssey Theater features large format feature films on a rotating basis.
Located two blocks from the Gateway Arch, the Old Courthouse is one of the oldest buildings still standing in St. Louis. Four museum galleries and six dioramas depict the history of St. Louis. The displays, along with two restored courtrooms give visitors an understanding of some of the activities that took place here.
The Old Courthouse was the site for the first two trials of the Dred Scott case, in 1847 and 1850, when slave Scott sued his owner, Mrs. Irene Emerson, for freedom. The first case was thrown out based on hearsay evidence. Dred Scott won the second case, but Mrs. Emerson appealed to the State Supreme Court. Mrs. Emerson won that case, and Dred Scott then took the case to the federal Supreme Court. He eventually lost the case, on the basis that he was a slave, and therefore not a citizen, thus having no right to try a case in a federal court. The case fueled the start of the Civil War. The courtroom where the first two Dred Scott cases were tried is no longer in existence, as the courthouse was renovated shortly after the second trial, in 1851.
The courthouse was abandoned for a new, larger structure in 1930. After being used for an art school and a workshop where toys were restored for needy children, the building was deeded to the federal government in 1940. The Park Service began restoration of the Old Courthouse in 1941, after it was incorporated as part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.
All three sites are open year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Gateway Arch and Museum of Westward Expansion is open from 8:20am – 9:10pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day; and from 9:20am – 5:10 pm the remainder of the year. The Old Courthouse is open from 8:00am-4:30pm daily. Note that visitors to the Arch & Museum have to pass through a security checkpoint in order to enter the building.
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