Help! question re trip to St Louis Arch

[ElizK]

I'm going to take my kids to see the St Louis Arch, and planning to use public transportation. Is there anything I should know? Is it clean and safe? Just have a few hours... is there anything along the route we should see? I appreciate any advice you have to offer.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I'm going to take my kids to see the St Louis Arch, and planning to use public transportation. Is there anything I should know? Is it clean and safe? Just have a few house... is there anything along the route we should see? I appreciate any advice you have to offer.

How close are you?
I was just there last weekend for a conference. The bus drivers were telling us some of the facts. It is the tallest man made national monument. The elevator runs every 20 minutes.

from the site:
http://www.gatewayarch.com/Arch/info/arch.fact.aspx


The Arch is the tallest national monument in the United States at 630 feet; it is the city's best known landmark and a popular tourist attraction.
Construction began February 12, 1963 and the last section of the Arch was put into place on October 28, 1965.
The Arch is a structure known as a catenary curve, the shape a free-hanging chain takes when held at both ends, and considered the most structurally-sound arch shape. The span of the Arch legs at ground level is 630 feet, the same as its height.
Each year, approximately a million visitors ride the trams to the top of the Arch. The trams have been in operation for over 30 years, traveling a total of 250,000 miles and carrying over 25 million passengers.
The Arch weighs 17,246 tons. Nine hundred tons of stainless steel was used to build the Arch, more than any other project in history.
The Arch was built at a cost of $13 million. The transportation system was built at a cost of $3,500,000.
In order to ensure that the constructed legs would meet, the margin of error for failure was 1/64th of an inch. All survey work was done at night to eliminate distortion caused by the sun's rays. Since the Arch was constructed before the advent of computer technology, relatively crude instruments were used for these measurements.
The Arch sways a maximum of 18" (9" each way) in a 150 mph wind. The usual sway is 1/2".



here is the "Things to do" page:
http://www.gatewayarch.com/Arch/info/arch.todo.aspx

Mikeeee

 

[RNMOM]

We went about 10 years ago in the summer and it was in the 90's there. The elevators are little "pods" that you sit in and hold only about 4 people, if I remember right. I do remember it was very very hot in the elevators and at the top due to the weather. We enjoyed the area.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Planning to use Public Transportation?

Here is the Metro Link....
http://www.metrostlouis.org/

By Public Transportation
If you prefer public transportation, the trip to the Gateway Arch is quick and easy. Take the MetroLink, which departs approximately every 10 minutes, to the Gateway Arch Riverfront. Simply board at any MetroLink station and exit at Arch-Laclede's Landing Station. From there, it’s a short 5-minute walk. Follow the signs to the Arch.

 

[bgirldeb]

We went to St. Louis around 1996 (?), stayed out close to the airport and took the subway/rail service whatever to downtown and the arch. It was very clean, as far as I can remember.

 

[WDWAurora]

This is fun to see! I'm planning to go to the arch in an upcoming trip to see my husband's grandparents and aunts. Unfortunately, I'll be going in the arch alone, as my husband and DMiL are afraid of heights. If his brother goes, maybe he'll go with me. I'm excited!

Does anyone know if you can buy a model arch in a store right around there? I want a little one. Nothing expensive, just a trinket.

 

[golfgal]

Tickets to go up in the arch sell out fast so plan on getting there early in the morning and buying tickets for later in the day. I don't think you can buy them online but it would be worth a try. There is a nice museum at the base of the arch so there is a place to kill some time, also it is right along the river and a good place to do a little walking.

Actually going up in the arch is kind of disappointing. You ride up in this little car, if you are at all claustrophobic, skip that, and one you are up there are a few little windows you can look out then you ride back down. Plan on spending about 5 minutes at the top to take a few pictures then ride down.

If you have time I would recommend going over to the City Museum with the kids--it is a BLAST! Probably the best thing to do in the city with the kids.

 

[LadyyRedd]

You actually can buy them online and I was going to suggest doing so because they will sell out for the popular days/times.

Kimya

 

[PlutosFriend]

I'm going to take my kids to see the St Louis Arch, and planning to use public transportation. Is there anything I should know? Is it clean and safe? Just have a few hours... is there anything along the route we should see? I appreciate any advice you have to offer.

Where are you taking the public transportation from? There are parts of the city that are not safe, so stick to the touristy areas I have lived in the St. Louis area all of my life. My kids love going to the arch.

 

[PlutosFriend]

This is fun to see! I'm planning to go to the arch in an upcoming trip to see my husband's grandparents and aunts. Unfortunately, I'll be going in the arch alone, as my husband and DMiL are afraid of heights. If his brother goes, maybe he'll go with me. I'm excited!

Does anyone know if you can buy a model arch in a store right around there? I want a little one. Nothing expensive, just a trinket.

You sure can! Below the arch, there is a museum and gift shop. My son just bought a little arch figure last fall. It wasn't expensive at all.

 

[PlutosFriend]

Tickets to go up in the arch sell out fast so plan on getting there early in the morning and buying tickets for later in the day. I don't think you can buy them online but it would be worth a try. There is a nice museum at the base of the arch so there is a place to kill some time, also it is right along the river and a good place to do a little walking.

Actually going up in the arch is kind of disappointing. You ride up in this little car, if you are at all claustrophobic, skip that, and one you are up there are a few little windows you can look out then you ride back down. Plan on spending about 5 minutes at the top to take a few pictures then ride down.

If you have time I would recommend going over to the City Museum with the kids--it is a BLAST! Probably the best thing to do in the city with the kids.

I agree! I don't care to go back up in the arch. I am glad my DH is willing to take the kids I agree that the City Museum is a cool place. We also have a great zoo that is free to get in. Grants Farm is also another fun place that is free.

 

[ElizK]

Thanks, all, for you replies. We actually went yesterday, just for the day (one of the few perks of working for an airline). I threw it together very last minute. What a fun day! You're right about the top of the arch. We kind of looked around for about 20 mins, and then back down. It was much more impressive from ground level. I'm glad we went up, though. Yikes, those elevators are tiny! I'm a bit claustrophobic. Good thing the ride wasn't any longer! We rode the Metrolink from the airport straight to the arch. Went through some rough looking parts of town, but we had no problems at all. We had lunch on one of the riverboats during a one hour cruise. It started raining pretty good, so we didn't get to walk over to the old capital bldg or the old church. Sorry we missed those.

Thanks again for your help! I really appreciate it.