Ellen Oliver

Review of The Gateway Arch

The park has been totally re-done in a high-tech, ...

The park has been totally re-done in a high-tech, updated format that totally eliminated the original warmth & comfort of the museum. Outside grounds are clean, open spaces twice the size of a couple years ago with benches (cement) & spacious walking paths. Most of the walking to get from parking to the arch entrance (almost 2 city blocks) is a slow downward ramp-type sidewalk. People were managing wheelchairs carefully, people with canes, like me, & walkers had a workout getting back up the long incline to the street. Thank goodness for the benches! Inside is set up with huge video screens that hit you in the face after you go through security. Large rooms depicting different periods in history are all around a large open area & are full of information - all politically correct. Whole place is Spotless! There's the Cafe for snacks, sandwiches & beverages, a gift shop with reasonably priced souvenirs, clean restrooms, ticket window for rides in the arch. It's worth the time but I won't go again. It lost a lot by all the updating & modernizing.