Upcoming Events and Programs

Iconic Conversations Speaker Series, 2025-2026

Join us each month for a thought-provoking speaker series that brings St. Louis history to life. Gateway Arch National Park and Jefferson National Parks Association are proud to host compelling talks by local authors and other knowledgeable guests who will explore a variety of topics relevant to the St. Louis region. You might learn about our city's early beginnings, its architecture, our prominent leaders, the rise of the Gateway Arch, our civil rights struggles, and the best things to do around town. Book discussions will be followed by an author signing opportunity.

All programs are free and no reservations are needed. They will be held at 2:00 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month in the rotunda of the historic Old Courthouse (11 N. 4th Street, St. Louis, MO 63102). The building is fully accessible, and a sign language interpreter will be on hand for each presentation.

September 14, 2025: Jim Merkel, 60 Years of the Gateway Arch
October 12, 2025: John Guenther, The Gateway Arch: An Illustrated Timeline
November 9, 2025: Flannery Burke, Gateway to the East: Broadening Native Perspectives on St. Louis
December 14, 2025: Amanda Burke, Gateway Arch National Park: 90 Years as an Icon for Historic Preservation
January 11, 2026: Amanda Doyle, 100 Things to Do in St. Louis Before You Die
Feburary 8, 2026: Jan Jacobi, Lincoln and Douglas
March 8, 2026: Andy Hahn, Mapping St. Louis
April 12, 2026: Ed Wheatley, Baseball in St. Louis
May 10, 2026: Calvin Riley and NiNi Harris, Black St. Louis
June 14, 2026: Cheryl Eichar Jett, Aprons Away: Women's Work on Route 66
July 12, 2026: Vivian Gibson, Memories of the Mill Creek Neighborhood
August 9, 2026: Peter Kastor, St. Louis' American Revolution

Visit our calendar for more information about each specific event in this series.

 

Naturalization Ceremony. Friday, September 19, 11 a.m. In the rotunda of the historic Old Courthouse.

Thirty people are scheduled to get naturalized as U.S. citizens at this ceremony. The public is invited to witness the ceremony but there will be no chairs available for them to sit in as the chairs are reserved for the people getting naturalized and for their families and friends. There will be space available to stand on the south side of the rotunda behind all of the chairs and anywhere up on the second-floor balcony. RSVP's are not needed from anyone who wants to witness the ceremony.

 
A young woman lifts a garbage bag into a small utility vehicle as a male park ranger carries another garbage bag
At every riverfront cleanup, volunteers work alongside NPS staff to remove hundreds of pounds of trash and recyclables from the Mississippi River.

NPS Photo

National Public Lands Day. Saturday, September 27. Several activities throughout the day.

National Public Lands Day is traditionally the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort. It celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits. Every year, Gateway Arch National Park and Gateway Arch Park Foundation commemorate this special day by hosting a Riverfront Cleanup.

National Public Lands Day activities are free and open to people of all ages. This year’s theme is “Our Home Outdoors”, which is a reminder that these lands are not just physical spaces—they are where we come together, feel rooted, and develop a sense of place.

Just Breathe Yoga Session Under the Arch: 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Join The Collective STL for Just Breathe Yoga, a free, all-levels yoga session under the Gateway Arch. Registration will be available soon.

Mississippi River Cleanup: 9 a.m. - noon.

Meet up and team up at the Gateway Arch to help clean up the St. Louis Riverfront! Nine billion tons of trash end up in the ocean every year. In fact, the Mighty Mississippi River is one of the largest sources of oceanic plastic debris. But with YOUR help, we can minimize our environmental footprint by collecting riverside trash to keep the riverfront clean. Gateway Arch National Park, Gateway Arch Park Foundation, Beyond Plastics, Republic Services, Missouri Stream Team, Great Rivers Greenway, Living Lands & Waters, and the City of St. Louis have partnered to organize a community trash pick-up event on National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 27 from 9 a.m. - noon. Recruit your friends and family members and join us in lending a helping hand and cleaning up the riverfront! Interested volunteers should register online at archpark.volunteerhub.com.

Explore the new exhibits at the Old Courthouse: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Through the generous support of Gateway Arch Park Foundation's philanthropic donors, the Old Courthouse has undergone extensive renovations to introduce brand-new exhibits, update critical structural elements, and enhance overall accessibility, ensuring this historic building will remain vibrant for future generations. The Old Courthouse is free and open to the public. You’re invited to explore and learn more about important parts of our nation’s history that occurred within the Old Courthouse, including where Dred and Harriet Scott sued for their freedom, Virginia Minor fought for her right as a woman to vote, and more than 300 enslaved African Americans filed suits for their freedom.

NPS Fee-Free Day: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The National Park Service has designated National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 27 a fee-free day, in which the entrance fee at all NPS sites is waived. At Gateway Arch National Park, the $3 entrance fee included in each adult Tram Ride to the Top ticket and adult Documentary Movie ticket is waived. This means that Tram and Movie tickets will be $3 cheaper than they normally are.

 
Starry night sky with the moon in upper right and the Gateway Arch in the middle

2025 Gateway to the Stars Events:

An astronomy or National Park related educational program will precede free telescope viewing of the Moon and other celestial objects.

Saturday, September 27, 7:00 pm. "Ranger Night Walk." Enjoy a walk around the Park and learn about area history. Meet at the entrance plaza.

Sunday, October 26, 6:30 pm. "Ghosts of the Arch Grounds." The area where the Gateway Arch stands today has always been central to local history. Learn about the various incarnations of the park grounds and the fortunes and misfortunes of historical figures such as Eero Saarinen, James Eads, Thomas Targee, Percy Green, and Kenneth Swyers. Meet at the entrance plaza.

 
A cat in a ranger costume
Don't be feline left out! Adventurous kitties are also welcome outdoors at the park and at our summer B.A.R.K. Ranger events. Cats must be restrained on leashes or in strollers.

NPS Photo

2025 B.A.R.K. Ranger Events

All B.A.R.K. events will be held outdoors and all will meet at the entrance plaza. Events will be cancelled or rescheduled in case of inclement weather. All dogs must be leashed and friendly. See our Pets page for more information about B.A.R.K. Ranger.

Sunday, September 21 at 10am. Dog Art. Create a special piece of art with your pet. All materials will be provided.

Sunday, October 19 at 10am. Pet Costume Parade. Dress up your pets and show them off in a parade around the Arch. **Note: there will be no prizes for the parade. All dogs are good boys and girls.

 

Keep checking this page for more information about future events

Fee Free Days in 2025 Date
Martin Luther King Day Monday, January 20
1st Day of National Park Week Saturday, April 19
Juneteenth National Independence Day Thursday, June 19
Great American Outdoors Act Monday, August 4
National Public Lands Day Saturday, September 27
Veterans Day Tuesday, November 11

Last updated: September 11, 2025

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

11 North 4th Street
St. Louis, MO 63102

Phone:

314 655-1600

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