We actually get to say, for real…
“We’re not in Kansas anymore!”
Our last national park of this journey is a place we’ve visited before, back when it was simply a national monument. The Gateway Arch is now the newest of the 60 U.S. national parks, officially designated just last year.
They’ve built a beautiful new visitor center and an underground museum packed with fascinating information—covering the history of St. Louis, the people behind the construction of the Arch, and compelling exhibits on westward expansion.
The Arch is as wide as it is tall—630 feet. We traveled to the top in those little, claustrophobic capsule trams and were rewarded with stunning panoramic views. Between the incredibly tight parking garage and that ridiculously enclosed tram, my vertigo was in full swing.
As the “Gateway to the West,” St. Louis now represents more to us than ever before. It’s a welcome sign, and a giant badge of gratitude for a safe journey across this beautiful country. Just three quick hours remain until we’re back at our storage locker in Jasper—and reunited with friends we said goodbye to almost five months ago.