Museum at the Gateway Arch

The Museum at the Gateway Arch spreads across six galleries beneath the arch structure itself. Interactive displays and historical objects show you how St. Louis grew and how people moved westward from this river port.

St. Louis began in 1764 as a French fur trading post on the Mississippi River. The space traces how it became a launching point for westward expansion over the following centuries.

Native American, French, and American perspectives shape the stories told in the galleries around you. You see how these different groups left their mark on daily life, trade, and the way people moved through this river region.

The underground location means you enter from the arch grounds above and descend into the galleries. The space is fully accessible, and you can connect easily to riverboat tours or the arch tramway from the same building.

A virtual reality room recreates the riverfront in 1850, when steamboats crowded the docks and made St. Louis into a trading hub. You step into that moment and experience the river traffic as it once was.

Location: St. Louis

Address: St. Louis, MO 63113

Website: https://gatewayarch.com/museum

GPS coordinates: 38.62496,-90.18635

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:28