Gateway Arch National Park is unique among the nation’s national parks. First off, it’s the smallest. Less than one square mile, the home is located in downtown St. Louis. It’s the home to the Gateway Arch, standing at 630 feet and towering over the Mississippi River. The “gateway to the West” was completed in 1965 and is the city’s most recognizable landmark.

The park, formerly the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, was established as a national park in 2018. In addition to the Arch, the famous Old Courthouse is located within the park. The park provides a rich history of Thomas Jefferson, indigenous people and settlers who lived in the area, and some of the important civil rights cases of the 19^th century. The park is easily accessible and, with just a little planning, can be experienced in a single day.