Sue Ford/NPS Old Courthouse and the Arch from Kiener Plaza.
Welcome to our blog! Here you'll find behind-the-scenes views from staff who work at the Gateway Arch and the domed Old Courthouse.
Posted: January 30, 2012 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Jennifer Clark, Archivist
Founding of St. Louis lunette just restored
The conservators from the Page Conservation, Inc. working on the lunette project have just completed two of the four lunettes-Pierre Laclede landing in St. Louis and the British-Indian assault on Spanish held St. Louis in 1780. The term lunette refers to the half moon shaped space that the paintings occupy in the Rotunda of the Old Courthouse. Originally completed around 1862 by Carl Wimar, the lunettes have suffered the
Posted: January 03, 2012 | posted by: Caitlin McQuade!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
If you have not read the story, please take a moment to do so.
Waking up on New Year's Day, the last thing I expected to hear about was a National Park Service family member being murdered. I have taken some time now to reflect on what Ranger Anderson's murder means to me, and the story is still devastating. I was never fortunate enough to meet Ranger Anderson, but the loss of someone close to you, whether by actual relation or just by homogeneous position, is never easy. I do not know how my fellow Rangers are feeling today, but I am sure there are varying degrees of emotions: sadness, anger,
Posted: December 13, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
If you are looking to entertain out of town guests, then look no further. Bring your friends and relatives down to the Old Courthouse and the Gateway Arch. There is fun for everyone; both locations have nice shops, where you can pick up nice items to check off your Christmas list.
This Wednesday, December 14, the noon concert features Diane McCollough Scottish Christmas. Then on Saturday, December 17, there will be an "1861 Civil War Ball and Dance Workshop. From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. there will be the two hour 1861 dance workshop with Deborah Hyland, then from noon until 4 p.m. is the Christmas Ball with Deborah Hyland
Posted: November 22, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
Exhibit Specialist Beth Browne attaches a gold bow to one of the chandeliers in the Old Courthouse in preperation for the Historic
Holiday Traditions.
The chandeliers have been wrapped in garland, with gold bows and pink tassels adorned. The trees have been trimmed; yes I said "trees". Some of you may remember the 25 foot Victorian Christmas tree we used to put up in the Old Courthouse rotunda. Well all good things come to an end; the tree had to be retired. Now we have smaller trees in two of our galleries. In Becoming a City (1850-1900)
Posted: November 07, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
Flags and bunting soon to be replaced by Victorian Christmas decorations.
Next up for the Exhibit Staff is to decorate the Old Courthouse for Victorian Christmas. Our department has been busy with putting up the Paint America exhibit at the Old Courthouse and the Arch; we just left up the Fourth of July decorations. The plan is to swap out the red, white, and blue for the white and gold for Christmas. The greenery will stay up since it serves both holidays. This is the first time we have done this, we'll see if it saves of time or
Posted: November 01, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
Fall is finally here, well it's been here for awhile I guess, but it finally is starting to feel like fall. With the cooler weather, soft rain, and light breeze, more folks are bundling up and taking out their coats from last fall/winter. With more layers, you can carry more stuff, and with more stuff, the less you may know you are carrying, if that makes any sense. What I'm saying in a nutshell is this: check your pockets. Don't wait until you are at the entrance to the security checkpoint at the Arch to remember that you have your pocket knife or etc. If you do happen to remember you are carrying any other random possibly sketchy if misconstrued item, please do us all a favor and take it ALL THE WAY back to your car. I've told you several times on
Posted: October 20, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
Now everybody in St. Louis and beyond has heard about the Rally Squirrel. If it's squirrels you want to see, we have plenty on the Arch grounds. The Rally Squirrel that was captured at Busch Stadium could have been one of ours. The Gateway Arch is only 2-3 blocks from the stadium. That's not a long walk-or scamper for a squirrel. We are a National Park and what do we have plenty of? Trees, tons of trees for the furry little critters to scurry around in.
Come down to the Arch grounds and you will see a bunch of Rally Squirrels, then take a tram ride to the top where you
Posted: October 11, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
Today boys and girls, we will be discussing migratory water fowl. More specifically, we will be discussing, our seasonal population of Canada Geese that occupy the area surrounding both Arch Reflecting Ponds. As the temperature continues to drop (not that it has shown any sign of doing so yet), bird migration will become more prominent and the aforementioned Canada Geese like to take up residence here on the Arch Grounds. We get a drastic number of geese that set up from late fall, all the way through winter. What we also get is visitors who want to feed, chase (or get chased by), and/or generally disturb the goose population. Keep in mind that these geese are protected on our grounds. Harassing wildlife of any sort, including geese, turkey, or any
Posted: September 30, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Jennifer Clark, Archivist
In August, the Cultural Resources Staff started two new features on the website-Book Spotlight and Artifact of the Month columns. Both columns will publish on the first of the month
Posted: September 30, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
Preparing the gallery to hang "Paint the Parks".
Come On, downtown and see a free art exhibit. The National Park Service is hosting a two for one art exhibition. Beginning October 7, 2011 paintings depicting America's National Parks will be on display at the Old Courthouse and the Gateway Arch Visitor Center in St. Louis as part of "Paint the Parks".
This annual exhibit is a must see for art lovers and for those who appreciate our beautiful
Posted: September 15, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
September 24 is National Public Lands Day, which means it's time to get out and support your National Parks. For us here at JEFF, we have some cool stuff going on. Most notably, we have a Bald Eagle from the Wild Bird Sanctuary that's going to be in the lobby on display and doing demonstrations between noon and 4pm. An. American. Bald. Eagle. How awesome is that? On top of the Bald Eagle presentation, there are going to be Ranger lead programs and activities throughout the day including a presentation about the Overland Trails, Lewis and
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Posted: September 01, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
This weekend is the last Ranger-led bicycle tour of the season. Come down to the Arch grounds and bring your bike for a leisurely tour along the Riverfront Trail. If you don't have a bike you can rent one from Discovery Bike Rental located down on the Riverfront just across the street from the Grand Staircase (the big set of stairs in front of the Arch).
On this 8 mile ride you will learn about the natural river features and how people began to change the river in the 1800's. Grab the kids, strap on the helmets and pedal your way to fun and education on the Riverfront Trail. This final bike tour of the summer is on Saturday, September 5th. Meet
Posted: September 01, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
It's been awhile since I've talked about upgrades to the park I've been promising all year, so maybe I should give you all an update. We have our new camera system in and operational, which I've told you about before, and now the entrance checkpoints have almost finished being remodeled. What once were downtrodden brown carpeted walls have now been given new life and replaced by more vibrantly designed patterning. The entrance checkpoints are now brighter, modernly fashioned, and have been accentuated with brand new entrance signs. It's pretty much just complete makeover. Good stuff. Also I should note that the Ticket Center in the lobby was redone and flat panel screens have been mounted throughout the lobby with updated ticket times and tram loading
Posted: August 18, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
Well it's over. It's all over. The season of summer has another month to go, but this week Saint Louis area schools report back to end another summer vacation. We here at the Arch have about 3 weeks left to go in our season as summer hours end Labor Day, Monday, September 5th. I believe I've mentioned this on the blog before, but if I haven't, you need to take advantage of our extended hours and see the view from the top at night. It's exquisite. Trust me. Additionally, there are still some pretty cool programs running through the end of the season; most notably my favorite, the Ranger lead bike tours. The bike tours are an 8 mile loop down the riverfront trail and back and take roughly 2 hours. They start at 9 am at the bike rental area at
Posted: August 04, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
Sorry for the inconsistency of my blog posts over the last few months, the Summer has been a busy time here at the Arch. What I'm supposed to do with this blog is tell you about the Ranger Activities Division here at the Arch, but as all of my readers know, I have trouble staying on topic. Call it a downfall, a shortcoming, a "what have you," but I'm just here to report what I see going on in the park and the Park Service through my eyes. Do you know what my eyes are seeing this weekend? The river. Not the Mississippi, the Missouri, or the Illinois but the Black River. I'm getting out of this concrete jungle of high temperatures and heading down to central Missouri for a good old fashioned canoe trip. I suggest you do the same. Temperatures for the
Posted: July 22, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
The Metro St. Louis Area is under a Heat Warning. This dangerous and prolonged heat wave will continue and the warning is in effect until Sunday at 7p.m. It is imperative that you do not leave children or pets in a car- NOT EVEN for a short period of time. The dangerous combination of heat and humidity is a major public health risk, and can even lead to death.
If you work or spend time outside take extra precautions. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing and drink plenty of water. Schedule strenuous work duties and activities for
Posted: July 13, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coti Stief, Lae Enforcement
Today, as I write this blog, it's July 12th, and I can't help but think of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip in which Calvin is freaking out because, "IT'S ALREADY JULY!?" and his summer is almost over. That's how I'm feeling right now. The Fair has come and gone and although rain dampened one of the three nights the other two were a great success. While it's true that the summer season is less than a month old, the traditional summer break is about halfway over. Do not fret however as there is still plenty of time to come visit us and I just found out about a money saving promotion here at the Arch that may help entice you. I'm not even trying to be cheesy, I literally just found out about this. If you buy tickets to the Arch online(
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Posted: July 08, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
If you happen to be strolling along our beautifully manicured Arch grounds and you happen to look up. You might spot one of the "purple gizmos" hangingin some of the trees. These "gizmos" are emerald ash borer traps. The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis or argrilus marcopol and EAB) is a green beetle native to Asia. In the United States the EAB is an invasive species, extremely destructive to ash trees.
Here at the Arch grounds we have many Rosehill Ash trees that line our walkways. The traps are preventative maintenance, we have not detected any emerald ash borer here at the park. The EAB has been in Missouri since 2008. The beetle has been heavily detected in Wayne County,
Posted: June 30, 2011
Recently, I was scanning some photographs from Fourth of July 1984 and thought this would be a good time to share them.
Fair St. Louis was known as the VP Fair back then. It looks a bit more crazy than our Fair today. The crowds are truly enormous and the trash left behind looks just awful. I was very surprised to see there was a scale replica of Festival Hall from the 1904 World's Fair erected on the Arch grounds. Glen Campbell was one of the
Posted: June 28, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Michelle Menne, Gardener
Not a day goes by where we don't have folks walking around looking up at the shiny catenary curve in the sky. the question is... have you noticed people looking at the trees lately? Some folks might seem lost yet others seem on a mission! Well that's because the Arch has been selected to participate in the Great St. Louis tree hunt! We have two out of the thirty total trees in the hunt...or geocache. At each location you'll find a TREEmendous sign that identifies the tree. Write down the information included on the sign,
or take a photo of the sign with a smartphone! We recently had a visit from a member of the St. Louis Geocachers
Posted: June 15, 2011 | posted by: Jennifer Clark!
On Flag Day (June 14, 2011), a group of 65 people were sworn into US Citizenship here at the Old Courthouse by The United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri.
These ceremonies are always well attended by the family and friends of the new citizens and are a very festive occasion. In the summer, when ceremonies are held on Flag Day and the Fourth of July, the Old Courthouse is decorated to celebrate a Victorian style
Posted: June 14, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
Here in the United States, today June 14 is Flag Day . At the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, specifically at the Old Courthouse we go all out for this holiday. The entire building is decorated in Victorian era red, white and blue. Banners, bunting and flags adorn every floor inside the building, and a gold eagle and flags greet you on the east outer door of the Old
Posted: June 13, 2011
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
Very simply, you NEED to be here between the 20th and 26th of June. It's Marine Week in St. Louis and there are some really cool things going on at the Arch and downtown. My group of friends, and I are even coming down to snap some photos, see some demonstrations, and shake the hands of true heros. You should do the same. Just come down and support our troops and say thanks. That and see some brand new high tech weapons and robots... Yeah, it's going to be awesome. www.marines.mil/community/marineweekstlouis/Pages/home.aspx
Oh and while you're waiting fot the 20th to come around, do something to help with the terrible storms and devastation we've had over the last
Posted: June 03, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Diane Fefferman, Interpretation, Park Ranger
We at the Gateway Arch are always on the lookout for new ways for our beautiful Park Grounds to be put to use, especially in entertaining and educational ways. This summer, we will once again be presenting our "Gateway to the Stars" program, featuring a guest speaker inside the Arch Visitor Center, and free telescope viewing on the Arch Grounds, weather permitting.
On Monday evening June 13, local Research Scientists Abby Fraeman and Amy Shaw will be presenting a free talk on
Posted: June 02, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibit Specialist and Web
Most everybody has heard about the severe weather here in the state of Missouri, thunderstorms, hail and deadly tornadoes. When the warning sirens go off or the media tells the public to take cover, please seek shelter. This is not something to ignore, try and find a sturdy building or basement to ride the storm out. These storms can be very destructive and cause property damage, injury and even loss of life. I have gone to the basement three times in the last month due to storms and tornado warnings. Thankfully my neighbors and I have had no property damage.
Have a family disaster plan, this way your family can
Posted: June 01, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
Well ladies and gents, it's that time of the year, when the Gateway Arch is open for more hours of the day than it's closed. For those of you that don't know, the Arch extends to summer hours starting Saturday May 28th and runs through Labor Day weekend. We will be opening at 8am and closing at 10pm 7 days a week. What that means however is that while you're inside looking at the gift shops, watching a movie, touring the museum, or etc. (I highly suggest you make it a point to go to the top of the Arch at night)you can lose track of time and it can easily be late in the evening when you leave the complex. Now we all know that Saint Louis is not the safiest of cities, and we take pride in making the Arch Grounds an extremely safe place to be,
Posted: May 16, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Jen Clark, Archivist
Gateway Greening was out in force today putting the plants in at Kiener Plaza. They do a magnificent job with these plants, it is always interesting to watch them grow to fill the space over the summer. The displays are usually quite spectacular. Gateway Greening's website has
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Posted: May 13, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
As I write this blog entry, it’s Friday the 13th, and I’m looking over my shoulder, checking chairs before I sit down, and generally being a paranoid man all day long. Usually I don’t have bad luck on Friday the 13th but more so on Saturday the 14th when I let my guard down…. Oh well. Another thing about today is that it’s finally less than 90 degrees, which is a great reprieve from the last few days. If this is any indication of how the summer is going to go, it’s going to be a burner. If you are familiar with
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Posted: May 10, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Jennifer Clark, Archivist
One of our interpretation rangers Doug Harding, has set up a little memorial board just off of the rotunda today to victums of the Camp Jackson incident. Today is the 150th anniversary of that occasion-the first blood spilled in Missouri for the Civil War. Doug told me that he's spoken with people who are descendants of some of the first victims and their families still live here in St. Louis! The Civil War event anniversaries
Posted: May 02, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
In case you are not from the Midwest you should know that it has been raining here in St. Louis. A lot. With those April showers, we've accumulated quite the inflated river at the bottom of our Grand Staircase. What this means to you is very little. Although Sullivan Blvd. is under a few feet of water and is closed, we will be here at the Arch getting ready to expand to our summer hours at the end of the month, and generally conducting business as usual. You can expext the Arch to be open regardless of the flood waters on Sullivan Blvd. What we expect from you the visitor however, is that you keep you and your children out of the river. Simply stated, it's dangerous, rivers are unpredictable and we would ask you to please view the flood from afar.
Posted: April 19, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
Let's get a little Latin! The genus Cornus includes a group of 30-50 species mostly deciduous trees and shrubs in the family of Cornaceae commonly known as dogwoods. Ok that's it for the Latin lesson, thank you Wikipedia.
Now for some Dogwood history, the name "dog-tree" entered the English vocabulary in 1548 and then it further transformed into "dogwood" by 1614. Once the name dogwood stuck, it soon had a secondary name; it also became known as the "Hounds Tree". The fruits came to be known as dogberries or hound berries. One theory suggests that "dogwood" was derived from Dagwood, the
Posted: April 19, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Cody Stief, Law Enforcement
As promised, we have begun construction on the North Security Entrance to the Gateway Arch Visitor Center. What that means to you the visitor is that things may be slightly more adventurous getting in. First off, the North Entrance is completely closed during renovation and the South Entrance is the only entrance. However, it's not really that difficult to find the South Entrance. If you are coming from the Arch Parking Garage located on the north end of the park on Washington Ave, you have approximately 630 more feet to get to the South Entrance, while the North Entrance is closed. A little known fact about the Arch is that it is 630 feet from the North Leg to the South Leg as well as 630 feet tall. As you will already be walking that
Posted: March 29, 2011
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
At the start of the year, I told you guys all about the new changes coming to the park in the Ranger Activities Division. Well, we have had our new cameras installed and boy are they efficient. More clarity at day and night, better zoom features, and better mobility means that as well monitored as the Arch grounds were before, they’re even better now. Now that Spring is here, only technically speaking of course, the forecast of snow today doesn’t really scream Spring is here, and while I’m not one to question the meteorology skills of rodents, I think old Punxsutawney Phil may have been confused this year, but I digress. Now that Spring is here, the Rangers and Dispatchers have noticed an increase of visitors on the park grounds after the park is
Posted: March 21, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
Looking for things to do since the weather is cooperating. Come on down to the St. Louis Riverfront and see what kind of fun you can get into! The Riverboat Sight Seeing cruises have begun. On weekends: 12pm, 1:30pm and 3:00pm, during the week: 1:30pm. If water isn't what you're into, try a carriage ride. Discovery Carriage Tours will be available March 19-March 27, at 1:30 and 3:00pm. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the call center at 1-877-982-1410, or by visiting the Riverboat Gift Shop or Arch Ticket Center. The tour is narrated and takes you through the Core of Discovery where you will see sites such as the Historic Old Courthouse and City Garden. The
Posted: March 14, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
If you're like me, you probably woke up this morning an hour late to wherever you were going. Happy Daylight Savings Time! Hopefully by the time you read this, you'll have figured out what time it really is. I wish I could continue to spout pithy bits on this blog all day, it really does make for an incredible use of my time, but this blog will undoubtedly be my shortest. All I have to say for this blog installment, which is not NPS related, is go to redcross.org and see how you can help with the people devastated in Japan by the plethora of natural disasters they've encountered over the last few days. Please stay educated, stay compassionate, and help. Thanks.
Posted: March 02, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Don Rusk, Interpretation Ranger
At the Arch we use many different interpretive modes to engage the visitors. Some are very earnest and sincere classic methods like a well planned public talk or working with maps and living history props, and some are just plain fun or 'edutainment' as we like to call it. For years we have had a set of building blocks that stack up to make an arch and spell out 'Gateway to the West'. Well we just got a new set that is smaller ,shorter and a little lighter that should help us edutain even more kids – here's a photo that show's the 'new blocks on the kids'. We mostly use these during times of heightened visitation like summer or spring break and
Posted: February 23, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
This summer we will be putting on our puppet shows in a new venue. As this blog is being written, a new puppet stage is being built in the Arch Visitor Center. The stage is located inside of the Museum of Westward Expansion in our Special Exhibits Gallery.
The featured show is "Westward Expansion and Exploration". This twenty minute show has Ranger Redstone telling Pat and Paul the prairie dogs the significance of the Arch and the figures it memorializes. We flash back in time to learn about the historical importance of why the Arch is here.
Two puppeteers (park rangers) work the show and many characters turn up to help
Posted: February 22, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Julie Northrip, Education Director
Several times a year Stanley visits our park. He arrives in a plain envelope and after touring the Arch and Old Courthouse and some picture taking, he is sent on his way to another national park. For those of you with young children, you may know Stanley. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, and family friends are often asked to take Stanley sight-seeing.
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Posted: February 15, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
Having grown up in Saint Louis, I often would see the Arch blessing the skyline, standing magnificently above all other structures in the city. In my eyes the Arch IS the Saint Louis skyline and I have an immense feeling of pride towards the Arch. It defines this city. It's why roughly 4 million visitors come to the grounds each year and why others just enjoy looking up on their daily commutes.
There have been discussions lately about the Arch corroding and starting to show signs of Mother Nature's constant battery. While we can't help to control Mother Nature, we can help to control the damage being done to the base of each of the legs. We know that people before you have scratched their name on the Arch; it's an eyesore for me every time I
Posted: February 09, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
I don’t profess to be a Human Resources Specialist for the National Park Service!
When I’m off site or off-duty and in uniform some of the most often asked questions I get are. Where do you work and how do you get a job there? Is that a city or state job? I explain that I work at the Gateway Arch for the National Park Service and this is a federal position. If you or someone you know is interested in finding a job with the federal government here’s what you need to do. Go to the Federal Government’s Official Job
Posted: February 04, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Julie Northrip, Education Director
The Gateway Arch and the Super Bowl. That doesn't sound right, does it? Well, yesterday while I was in my office someone ran in and said we just had to look out the windows of the Old Courthouse and see the Packer Mobile. I will be honest, I had no idea what Jenny was talking about. What is a Packer Mobile and why would I need to see it?
Parked on 4th Street, with the Arch in the background was an Eldorado convertible with a Green Bay Packer flag and a surfboard on top. Yes, a surfboard. What that has to do with football, I don't know.
The vehicle is the creation of
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Posted: February 04, 2011
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
Last week, the Park hosted a Medical First Responder course for Rangers (Interpreters and Law Enforcement) in the park, as well as other Park Rangers around the area, mainly St. Louis County. Rangers in the National Park Service are encouraged to become Medical First Responders and EMT's so that if a visitor injures themselves in the Park, our Rangers can provide immediate assistance to them. Here at the Arch, our Rangers are trained to be Medical First Responders and if the situation/medical condition is too great for our staff, St. Louis City EMS can be dispatched immediately. In the National Park Service,
Posted: February 04, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Jen Clark, Archivist
It's been a bit of a rough week here so far in St. Louis. Lots of ice, sleet, and a little snow on top of it. The Arch and Old Courthouse were closed yesterday, but we are back to work today. I'll leave it to my colleagues down at the Arch to document the Arch grounds under ice, but here are some snapshots from around the Old Courthouse and our neighboring Core of Discovery site, Citygarden.
This was on my way out
Posted: January 28, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Jen Clark, Archivist
It is quite a privilege to work in such a beautiful building as the Old Courthouse. When you enter, your eyes are naturally drawn up to the gorgeous Rotunda with its brightly painted decorations and paintings. However, today I'd like to show you some images of one of my favorite features of the building, the floors.
Not quite as showy as the Rotunda, the floors in the Old Courthouse are varied and beautiful in a number of ways. Today, the maintenance staff waxed and buffed the wood floor of Rotunda on the second floor and it looks just fantastic. The wooden floor on the third floor around the Rotunda has wider, not quite as
Posted: January 28, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Don Rusk, Interpretive Ranger
Every year we get at least some snow fall and accumulation in St. Louis... and just as sure as the white stuff coming down is the surety that someone will want to try their hand (and foot) at leaving graffiti in the _s_n_o_w_. As the Arch observation deck is 630 feet above it makes a wonderful vantage point for viewing all the 'art' left in the snowfield below. Everything from a simple 'hi' with a snow angel for a _D_o_t_ to peace signs and hearts with initials to testimonials both for and against a favorite sports team, to whimsical art pieces and crystalline crop circles and even the occasional full on
Posted: January 26, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibit Specialist and Web
As a uniformed employee of the National Park Service I am required to wear the green and the gray. I am an Exhibit Specialist and my job requires I wear a “Class B” uniform. This consists of a gray shirt with the NPS arrowhead patch on the left sleeve and embroidered name tag over the right pocket. My cargo pants are green and I wear the Government Issue hiking boots. I know very cute….. Depending on the season you can top it off with a hat. That’s a whole different post.
The weirdest question asked of me while in uniform came a few years ago on my way into work. I had stopped for coffee at a
Posted: January 26, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Julie Northrip, Education Director
January is a particularly slow month for school groups at the Arch and Old Courthouse. It is during times like this though that we start preparing for our busy spring season and planning ahead for the fall. Soon our Museum of Westward Expansion will be filled with school children engaged in activities as they explore the lifestyles of 19th century explorers, Indians, trappers, pioneers, farmers, and cowboys. Students will sit in the jurors' box in the Old Courthouse courtroom and decide on famous cases such as Dred Scott and Virginia Minor.
Year after year students come to our park for these free, educational programs. Often times they are accompanied by a
Posted: January 19, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
You know the drill right? You were the neighbor who knew that Timmy was up to no good when you saw him the other day. You just knew it. Well did you tell anyone? Did you do anything with your sixth sense? Now more than ever, it takes a community to raise a child, and to keep him safe. Just like your neighborhoods it's the same way here at the Arch. We need your help. We have Law Enforcement Rangers and Dispatchers monitoring the grounds twenty four hours a day and the Park Guard staff monitoring visitors during normal hours, but sometimes that may not be enough. We need your help. Be diligent, be observant, be smart. If you see something suspicious or something you don't understand, say something. You may be able to help keep someone safe. Rangers are
Posted: January 13, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Julie Nortrip, Education Director
I spent part of my first week back to work after the holidays going through my new 2011 calendar. I like having a blank calendar and then filling it up with programs that we will be offering throughout the year. The education department has finalized the schedule for its free spring and summer Family Junior Ranger programs. We have our scout workshops lined up for the whole year. There are also teacher, adult, and other children's programs that we are planning for the spring, summer, and fall. We have ideas for new offerings. My calendar is filling up with these programs and meetings to plan the programs. We hope that we are offering a variety of
Posted: January 12, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
This is why the U.S. flag is flying at half-staff over the Old Courthouse, here in St. Louis. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, which encompasses the Old Courthouse and Gateway Arch, is a unit of the National Park Service.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 09, 2011
Presidential Proclamation--Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy in Tucson, Arizona
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on
Posted: January 07, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Don Rusk, Interpretation Ranger
Happy New Year! Out with the old in with the new …
Sometimes the vistors experience at the top has to be squeezed a bit while work takes place… recently we had the wall up in the observation deck at the top of the Arch. And on closer inspection you can read the
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Posted: January 06, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Rose Hoots, Park Permits
It must be that time of year when newly engaged couples are looking for wedding venues for their big day. Most of my calls lately have been coming from wedding planners and brides-to-be seeking information about the type of ceremonies allowed either outside on the Arch grounds, at the Observation Deck at the Top of the Arch, or inside the Old Courthouse. We allow very “informal” stand-up ceremonies (a simple exchange of vows) at each of the previously mentioned locations, provided the following requirements are met: no set up is required (chairs, tent, props,
Posted: January 06, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
It is now 2011, I hope your resolutions are going well and you’re sticking to them. My personal resolution is to read 52 novels this year, which is a book a week. So far things are going swimmingly. For us in the Ranger Activities Division at the Arch, the New Year means looking forward to change and progress happening in the park. In a previous blog, I bragged about the ability of our Dispatchers to see nearly every inch of the park and with great clarity. This year, we’re looking at upgrading our camera systems so that we can be even better.
I’ve also recently bragged about the professionalism and diligence of our Park
Posted: January 05, 2011 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
After we had all of the boxed paintings in the gallery it was time to unpack them and record the condition of each painting. This entails checking each painting and their frames for any kind of damage and recording the results. If a painting is damaged we can contact the vendor or the artist so they can have the painting/frame repaired. The next step for this particular show is to arrange the paintings the way we want them to hang in the three areas of the Old Courthouse. We already have the measurements for the walls and the paintings, this helps with figuring where certain art will hang. The decision has been made that the largest
Posted: December 20, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Julie Northrip, Education Director
Earlier this month I saw an incredible student performance in the rotunda of the Old Courthouse. It was one of those experiences where you get goosebumps and think to yourself, "Wow! This is so cool!"
Students from Parkway Northeast Middle School performed the "world premiere" of Down at the Old Courthouse, a one-act play written by Lee Patton Chiles for the park. The students participating in the play met and interacted with ghosts from the past. These historic characters included Auguste Chouteau and Judge John B.C. Lucas who in 1816 donated property for the purpose of building the St. Louis County Courthouse, and Harriet Scott and
Posted: December 20, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Rose Hoots, Park Permits
Bring your camera—you are only a click away from photographing one of the most unique structures in the United States—the Gateway Arch! If you are a visitor or even a commercial photographer visiting the Gateway Arch, you have the opportunity to photograph this icon structure all for free without obtaining a permit.
A permit is
Posted: December 20, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
It's actually pretty easy to tell the difference between those who are Rangers and those who aren't. All National Park Rangers wear a bright shiny gold badge on their chest. Some badges are different from others as Law Enforcement Rangers have a larger badge with an eagle on it, while all other Rangers have a smaller badge featuring a buffalo. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, along with another 224 other National Parks offer an opportunity for young park visitors to become rangers and earn their own badges, through the Junior Ranger Program. This is a great way for children to get involved with their Parks as a little bit of work (answering questions and completing tasks in a workbook for example) gets rewarded with the pride of becoming a
Posted: December 16, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Jennifer Clark, Archives
Since it is so cold out, I thought I would share with you some of the lovely winter shots of the Arch and grounds from the archives. Usually, after a good snow, somebody from our Media Services department heads out with a camera to get some nice shots. One of the benefits of being a local St. Louisan is seeing the grounds in all seasons and the snow certainly makes for some lovely images! See the photos on our park blog Flickr site.
Posted: December 15, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibit Specialist and Web
Every year Jefferson National Expansion Memorial hosts the traveling exhibit Paint the Parks. This show not only comes to our park, but travels all over the country. We obtain Paint the Parks from PaintAmerica, which operates two of America's leading national artists' competitions and exhibitions. The Paint the Parks exhibit consists of 100 paintings of various media, depicting scenery, wildlife, and historic structures of many of America's National Parks.
Each artist has to pack their painting(s) and send it to Paint America, in Topeka, Kansas. The fun starts when the truck arrives here in St. Louis with the 100 paintings. As I said, 100 paintings arrive via truck. What gets
Posted: December 13, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Diane Fefferman, Interpretation, Park Ranger
The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday where many people seek out great deals on holiday gifts. However, for the front line employees at the Arch, Black Friday means no approved time off for that day. It is traditionally one of our busiest visitation days of the year.
If you live in the St. Louis area and you have a house full of guests for Thanksgiving then you have a couple of choices on what to do on Friday: join the crowds at the stores, go to the Zoo, the Science Center, Museums or go to the Arch (and maybe the Old Courthouse).
Most of the visitors at the Arch on that post holiday weekend are the ones with out-of-town family here visiting for the
Posted: December 10, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Don Rusk, Interpretation Ranger
You hear phrases like 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' and 'modern art' and 'industrial art' and 'found or incidental art' and 'one persons art is another persons mess'. Well, the Arch grounds provides some 'incidental art' of its own.The reflecting pools at the Arch over time host many things likes ducks and geese and swimming critters and the occasional visitor... but because of the organic runoff from the surrounding grounds the ponds also host a yearly Algae bloom that can take on an artistic look especially when the ponds are
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Posted: December 09, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Rose Hoots, Park Permits
It’s 12 noon December 1, and I’m sitting in my office in the Old Courthouse trying to decide if I want to go out for lunch (it’s so cold) or stay in and eat microwave popcorn (I chose the latter). All of a sudden I hear flutes or violins, I think, and singing coming from the Rotunda. “Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree”….?? Why, of course, it’s the noontime Christmas concert! I popped my popcorn, and returned to my desk, opened my door, and enjoyed the rest of the concert.
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Posted: December 08, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
In the last few weeks other security agencies and operations have come under heavy scrutiny for their use of body imaging and pat down searches of individuals who opt out of body imaging. While it's true that there are security checkpoints at each entrance to the Gateway Arch lobby, it needs to be stated that we have an entirely different operation from all other security operations. The park guard staff here is operated by the National Park Service, and is one of the few Park Service entities that have an NPS uniformed guard staff run by the NPS. We take great pride in providing our park guard staff daily training and challenges to constantly improve their knowledge and skills to keep them diligent and driven. With that said, we still have a
Posted: December 06, 2010 | posted by: Caitlin McQuade!
Caitlin McQuade, Exhibits and Web
Supervisory Ranger Stacy Humphries snapped this picture on her way into work a few weeks ago. She's new to the park, and I was tempted to tell her that if we water it, we can make the Arch grow about half-an-inch a year.
Actually, she'd already heard the truth from the maintenance guys you see in the picture (Dave in the yellow slicker, Steve walking towards him, and three others observing the ramp). They were testing the system that keeps water from running into the building.
To enter our underground visitor center, you walk down ramps that start at each of the Arch legs.
Posted: December 01, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Julie Northrip, Education Director
This time of year many of us are preparing for winter holidays and decorating our homes. Here at the park, the Old Courthouse is festooned with garlands and banners. The history galleries are decorated and provide glimpses into Christmases celebrated in St. Louis during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Many of the yesteryear ornaments were simply paper decorations that were often made at home. I love this time of year because I get the opportunity to do something creative, fun and educational, all at the same time! Park staff and volunteers will be helping children create 19th century style ornaments at this year's
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Posted: December 01, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
The two weeks before Thanksgiving the Exhibit staff started the arduous task of decorating the Old Courthouse for the Christmas holidays. We try and decorate as close to the Victorian style as we can. This is the period in which the building was in use.
Our goal is to start decorating at the top of the rotunda and work our way down. This means hiking up to the highest balcony and hanging greenery and wreathes from the railing (after having climbed up that high the air seems a little thinner). Then down on the third balcony, we hang more greenery and wreathes. The second balcony features gold and white satin bunting with the garland over lapping the bunting and going all the way around the rotunda railing. The finishing touch on this level is
Posted: November 29, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
Over the last two weeks, I was lucky enough to get sent to the Grand Canyon for a National Park Service focused training course. The course, called Fundamentals is part two of a five part tutorial aimed at building relationships around the Park Service, giving an introduction to other fields/branches/divisions of the Park Service, and reenergizing employees as they spend two weeks on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Let me tell you, it did just that.
Being in a more expansive National Park, it was so easy to become inspired by the Park Service and their mission. Maybe I was just drinking the Kool Aide the Park Service was feeding me at Fundamentals, but the mission of the National Park Service needs to be reminded to all of us from time to
Posted: November 22, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Diane Fefferman, Interpretation, Park Ranger
As I mentioned in a previous post, my husband, Rich and I are Park Rangers here and our three great kids love coming to the Arch - potential Park Rangers in the making.Some of my posts will be about my personal NPS family.
Our Interpretive staff presents educational programs ranging from Westward Expansion History, St. Louis History, and mock trials for Pre-Kindergarten through High School.These are in addition to our public tours.
It has been one of my wishes to present an educational program to one of my kids' classes.A few weeks ago my wish was granted when our son's Pre-K class came to the Gateway Arch for a field trip.
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Posted: November 10, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Jennifer Clark, Archives
One thing people often ask me is "But what does an archivist DO? " So I thought I'd share with you all a few things I've been working on lately.
The park has been working with the Rockwood School District who got a grant for elective classes to study the Civil War in Missouri –I led some sessions for them about learning from primary documents. The students will be examining primary documents in their research projects so I talked to them a bit about what primary sources are, how to find them, and how to analyze them. There are some great resources on this topic from the National Archives here.
Then I did an educational session for our interpretive rangers about
Posted: November 10, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Rose Hoots, Park Permits
If you are a downtown worker, what a great time of year to get out of the office for a brisk noon time walk on the Gateway Arch grounds! The trees are absolutely beautiful and we have been blessed with perfect weather (so far) this fall season. No special skill or talent required! No special equipment needed other than a good pair of walking shoes. I usually head out for a half-hour lunchtime walk each day. If you walk the Gateway Arch grounds’ interior walkways, the distance is
Posted: November 10, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Michelle Menne, Gardener
Moving right along in the landscape I happen upon a Red Oak. Quercus rubra is a native hardwood that has great fall color! Red oak is easy to recognize by its bark, which feature bark ridges that appear to have shiny stripes down the center. A few other oaks have bark with this kind of appearance in the upper tree, but the northern red oak is the only tree with the striping all the way down the trunk.The acorns occur singly, or in clusters, of two to five and mature in 2 years. Red oak acorns are brown when mature and ripen from late August to late October. I'm fond of trees in our park that have mast as it provides food for wildlife that live or pass through. The vast amount of acorns last year provided a
Posted: November 10, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Don Rusk, Interpretation Ranger
Urban Wildlife may seem like an oxymoron (call me a what !?!?) but over the years we have had some interesting non human visitors, like fox, deer, sasquatch and Cubs fans ... a few of my favorites have been the beaver that took up residence for a short time during the huge floods of '93 and'95 when their dams broke upstream and they found their way down the banks of the Mississippi to our wonderful, partially submerged trees lining the river - Beavers teeth will grow up into their skulls if they dont chew on SOMETHING, so our trees must have looked pretty tasty by the time the beavers found themselves here. Then there was the Coopers hawk we got to see building and using a nest right over the middle of our sidewalk every morning a couple years
Posted: November 10, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
It was the end of the work day for me and I was headed out to my car. The sun was shining the sky full of white billowing clouds and the park was a dazzling display of fall foliage. There were still a few hours of daylight left, I wanted to get home and hop on my bike. That's what I was thinking when I was approached from behind by a visitor. She asked "Do you work here"? "Yes I do". The woman had on headphones and was walking at a brisk pace. She had to slow down to keep up with me! She proceeded to tell me that she loved walking on the Arch grounds, that they were so pretty. Apparently she walks in the park every day.
I asked her if she had ever been to the top of the Arch. "In all of my 48 years I have never
Posted: November 05, 2010 | posted by: Caitlin McQuade!
Caitlin McQuade, Exhibits and Web
We have a pretty informal delivery system here at the park. If you happen to be driving between the Arch and the Courthouse, you get lots of requests to haul things that aren’t easily carried on foot.
This week I brought a box of about 10 mysterious spheroids to the rangers at the Arch. They were fat cushy ovals, about 8” x 6”; with a papery-but-sturdy exterior and a soft, dry stuffing. When I squeezed them, they’d poof back into shape. The outer surface was a chalky pale yellow color, and it was translucent in places. I could just make out the dark brown fibers inside.
Any guesses?
Bladder balls. Not kidding you.
More..
Posted: October 28, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
The life of a Dispatcher here is never a boring job, as you may or may not be aware, the Arch Grounds are covered with cameras which a member of Dispatch monitors twenty four hours a day. While sometimes shocking and befuddling, we see people in their natural element, that is, in the thought that they believe that they are alone. In the park, you are never alone, whether you are inside the Arch complex or outside on the grounds, the CCTV cameras installed throughout can see you. In a bid to not sound too Orwellian (oh my college Sociology teacher would be so proud of the
Posted: October 27, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
Do you want to get published? Who doesn't!!!! Get outside and start photographing in your favorite National Park or – Federal Recreation Land area. Isn't that a mouthful. There are many beautiful locations to choose from all over the country.
Grab that camera and start shooting, your magnificent photo could be picked to appear on the next National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands annual pass. If you're a photo geek like me, you like new photo gear; one of the prizes is an Olympus camera package! Cool, too bad I'm ineligible to enter……There is even a trip
Posted: October 26, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Caitlin McQuade, Exhibits and Web
For the last 15 months, we've had the pleasure of hosting some historic items from the St. Louis Cardinals. The NPS and the Cards collaborated on the exhibit Baseball's Gateway to the West during the 2009 All-Star Game celebration. We discovered that the Cardinals' history intersects with the history of westward expansion that we preserve at the park. The exhibit looks at the Cardinals' "westernmost" status until the 1950s, and digs even further back—to the 1850s!—to the origins of baseball in St. Louis and on the frontier.
The Cardinals lost their Hall of Fame Museum in 2008, so we've been especially glad to provide a place for people to see some of their treasures. We'll miss Grover Cleveland
Posted: October 21, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Tom Bradley, Superintendent
Welcome to the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial weblog. Thanks to our park staff and to the IT folks at headquarters for opening this window onto our work.
All the bloggers you'll meet on this page work daily to support the NPS mission in their own ways. That mission is twofold: to preserve this special place and to help people appreciate and enjoy it. (Perhaps you can see the challenge in aiming at both these goals at the same time; that's a long and ongoing story, and maybe our bloggers will touch on it.)
As part of our preservation duties, the NPS regularly monitors and reports on historic structures. You may have
Posted: October 21, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Michelle Menne, Gardener
I'll start with my favorite tree on the arch grounds which is the Bald Cypress. This tree deserves respect not only for its stately presence, but also for its lack of insect/disease problems. It thrives in the downtown conditions we experience here and creates an atmosphere under her limbs that leaves you with the feel of being in a forest far away from the city. Next time you're walking by a Bald Cypress take the time to sit next to it for awhile and enjoy the view! What do you see… Close your eyes, what do you hear? What do you smell? The globular cones are a treat to the squirrels and give a fresh scent to the landscape when eaten by the squirrels or
Posted: October 20, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Don Rusk, Interpretation, Ranger
Ooops, forgot to introduce myself...
I'm Don Rusk and I am a Park Ranger in the interpretation division ~ or an 'interpreter'. I've been at the Arch for the last 17 years - yes, I began the summer of the great flood of 1993 - no, it was NOT my fault.
I have been involved with a number of our divisions activities like the Safety Committee, Employees Association, Storytelling Festivals, as well as doing boat tours and music programs and even keeping up with the constant flow of Lost and Found items we get.
Being called an 'interpreter' always confuses people
Posted: October 19, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Julie Northrip, Education Director
Okay, I have to confess that this is my first blog ever. It's taken me awhile to jump in here, but here I go.
I'm the park's education director and share an office in the Old Courthouse with the two education specialists, Diane Weber and Peter Hovey, and the volunteer coordinator Doug Wahl. As I write this blog I hear the sound of the others typing on their keyboards and talking on the phone as they plan for upcoming activities.
So, what's going on with Education and Volunteers? On October 20 Diane will be attending the Resource Center Network Education Fair at the St. Louis Zoo. Educators and scout groups will stop by the park's booth to learn about the many programs we
Posted: October 18, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Diane Fefferman, Interpretation, Park Ranger
I am one of the few employees here at the park that also happens to have a spouse employed here. Park Ranger Rich Fefferman and I met here at the Arch and as the saying goes, "The rest was history." In future posts I will write about what it is like to be married and co-workers! We have three great kids and they love coming to the Arch - potential Park Rangers in the making.
This post was inspired by my husband. Rich organized this summer's entire Gateway to the Stars Programs and he's presenting this Friday's special program. I invite you to come out Friday evening and enjoy the stories and stars!
Want to get in the mood for
Posted: October 14, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Rose Hoots, Park Permits
Welcome to the world of "Park Permits." I manage and coordinate all the special use permits that are issued for using the park. There are all types of activities that can and do occur on park grounds. Do you want to have a fun run or walk? How about an informal wedding ceremony or wedding photos? Or, do you want to film a commercial or use the park as a location site for a movie or television program? What about expressing your First Amendment rights? HOT OF THE PRESS--new regulations were put in place regarding permits not being required for small First Amendment activities with 25 people or less participating—see the following press release at
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Posted: October 14, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Jennifer Clark, Cultural Resources, Archivist
There was an interesting article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Sunday called, "A Look Back: Demolition Cleared Way for the Arch". The Post-Dispatch online has a gallery of photos of the Arch grounds before, during, and after the demolition. The archives contains many photographs of the buildings that used to stand in the 40 blocks that make up the Gateway Arch grounds, but this series from the Post-Dispatch has some photographs that I've never seen before.
The article also refers to the Old Rock House, you may want to read one of the park's Museum Gazettes-
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Posted: October 12, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
When you walk up to the Gateway Arch and look close, you can see lots of marring, and scratches. In some places on the legs the damage is from the ground up to over six feet. Why are people so compelled to do such things?
There has been many a time when I have walked out of the Arch Visitor Center to find someone writing or scratching their name on the monument. I take this personally; maybe I'm a little over protective. I explain to the person that this is illegal and they can be fined. The Arch is here to be admired not to be vandalized. Yes, (our largest exhibit) the Arch is more resilient than the indoor exhibits; it can be touched, pushed and leaned on. It need not be scarred because someone
Posted: October 12, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
The main reason the Ranger Activities Division exists is to provide safety to visitors to the park and those around it. Now, I’m asking that you take care of your own safety and those around you outside of the park. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is a perfect opportunity to donate time and/or money to help fund research to cure this crippling disease. Programs such as The Race for the Cure by Susan G. Komen (ww5.komen.org) and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (www.nbcam.org) need our recognition and our help.
Proudly, some big
Posted: October 12, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Caitlin McQuade, Exhibits and Web
We're now in the third week of our blog, and we think we might be the first national park to use this new blogging function. We're definitely feeling like guinea pigs. There's still no way to upload photos, and, as Sue said to us, "A blog without pictures is a blah." (It's funnier if you say it out loud...)
I love the internet. Some might call it an addiction, but I think I'm just lucky to live at this moment in time. And there are similarities between the internet and the subject of my career for the last 20 years. I'm a museum exhibit planner.
What's the connection between an exhibit and a website? Both are types of communication where the audience controls the order and pace of
Posted: October 06, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Michelle Menne, Gardener
Hello everyone my name is Michelle and I'm one of six year-round gardeners at the Arch. I have the luxury of spending my work day outside watching the sun come up, listening to the birds chirp, and watching the different wildlife that visit the Arch grounds. We are home to many squirrels, birds, rabbits, and migratory fowl. A sanctuary for animals, if you will, in the middle of a city. Over the years I've seen an unexpected variety of animals here: A rooster, turkey, deer, and bald eagles. But the neatest, by far, was the fox that would hunt on the grounds right before the sun came up. He hunted/ lived here for a couple years and I would see him on my morning jog before work began. Many times we made eye contact before he darted off into the
Posted: October 04, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Diane Fefferman, Interpretation, Park Ranger
Vintage Base Ball (yes, it was spelled as two words originally) was played on the grounds surrounding the Gateway Arch on the first weekend in October. This was the Missouri Cup played by 1860s rules in 1860s uniforms. In the exhibition matches on Saturday, eight teams competed in round robin style. On Sunday, the top two teams played one another for the Missouri Cup. Sunday's game between the St. Louis Perfectos and the St. Louis Unions was filled with excitement. It was a real nail biter. The Unions led 7 – 2 by the bottom of the 7th inning. Perfectos scored 5 runs in the 8th inning and another 2 runs in the
Posted: October 01, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Don Rusk, Interpretation, Park Ranger
Every year the Arch turns out the lights for the migrating birds during the spring and fall migrations as the bright light at night throws off the passing birds and can interupt the natural flow of the semi annual migration.
On slow days at the top of the Arch I have often seen many flocks of geese, ducks,herons, egrets and UFOs as well as a steady stream of bald eagles... its always a thrill to be looking DOWN on a passing eagle!
So if your moving around downtown at night in late September ( in the spring too! ) and wondering where the Arch went - its lights out for the birds.
Peregrine
Posted: September 29, 2010
Jennifer Clark, Cultural Resources, Archivist
Since this is my first post, I thought I might introduce myself. My name is Jennifer Clark and I am the archivist here at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (JNEM). I am often asked just what it is that an archivist does-my responsibility is the archival collection of the park, which includes all of the unpublished papers, drawings, maps, and photographs created in the course of park business that have been selected for the archives. The archives also contains items that have been donated to the National Park Service by private citizens.
The library reading room is open to the public on the second
Posted: September 29, 2010 | posted by: Caitlin McQuade!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
For the past two weeks the Exhibits department has been working feverishly in preparation for the opening of Paint the Parks. Beginning October 1, artwork depicting several of America's National Parks will be on display at the Old Courthouse. I invite YOU, to come see for yourself and enjoy this years 100 best of show!
The selected paintings were created by various media and include subjects such as landscapes, wildlife, human figure and historic buildings. Please, stop at the Old Courthouse and see if one of your favorite parks has been represented. Just in case you're in the market for some artwork, the paintings are for sale. Ask a Park Ranger or check in the gift shop for a price list. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
More..
Posted: September 28, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Rose Hoots, Park Permits
Just because our St. Louis Cardinals won't be playing ball at Busch Stadium in late October, doesn't mean you can't see a full weekend of "Vintage Base Ball" (yes, it was two words originally), on the Gateway Arch grounds.Vintage base ball is amateur base ball played by the rules and customs of any earlier period.Players dress in period uniforms and enact rules and use language reminiscent of 1860s-era America.I use the word "enact" because games are not "re-enactments," but are recreational and completely unscripted.On October 2 and 3, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, each day, come see the game of base ball played by the rules set
Posted: September 28, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Coty Stief, Law Enforcement
First and most importantly, it's nearly unbelievable that I get to talk to you, the reader, the visitor, the inquisitive, and open mind about what life is like here at the Arch. It is a great honor to be the unofficial voice, or I should say text, of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial's Ranger Activities Division.
The Ranger Activities Division, known by the slick acronym RAD around here, is composed of three unique yet interwoven parts whose main purpose is to provide security and protection to the visitors of the park.
If you've visited the park before, you've undoubtedly had the pleasure of meeting the first of these parts, the Park Guard Staff. The Park Guards are the highly trained, respectful, and friendly men and women
Posted: September 24, 2010 | posted by: Sue Ford!
Sue Ford, Exhibits and Web
Welcome
Let me introduce myself, I am Sue Ford one of the Exhibit Specialists here at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Wearing many hats is the norm for an Exhibit Specialist in the National Park Service, from cleaning and maintaining exhibits in our 40,000 square foot Museum of Westward Expansion to working on the park's website. Oh, don't think I'm taking all the credit for cleaning the whole Museum, I have two co-workers that help with that huge under-taking.
In the ten years as an Exhibit Specialist at Jeff, the job has really evolved. It has gone from maintaining the Arch and Old Courthouse exhibit spaces to making signs, keeping animatronic figures running (we like to call them the dummies), installing exhibits that the
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