Museum at the Gateway Arch

Learn about St. Louis' role in American History

The Museum at the Gateway Arch shares St. Louis's role in United States history from the city's founding in 1764 to the completion of the Gateway Arch in 1965. It is free to all visitors and does not require a ticket.

This museum replaced the former Museum of Westward Expansion, which closed February 2015.

The museum is located underground, beneath the Gateway Arch. It is open daily from 9am until 6pm, with occasional extended hours during high-demand times. Learn about accessibility features in the museum here.

Check out our park calendar to learn what programs and events will be happening during your visit.

Explore the six museum galleries below:

 

Museum Galleries

Colonial St. Louis

Discover the Indigenous and Creole culture of St. Louis before the Louisiana Purchase

Jefferson's Vision

Thomas Jefferson had a vision for the United States

New Frontiers

Explore how people settled and lived in the West, the myths that became the West's cultural legacy, and the changes caused by industry

The Riverfront Era

The first steamboat to arrive in St. Louis changed the city forever

Manifest Destiny

The United States was determined to move west

Building the Dream

Learn how the Gateway Arch became a reality