There are 8 tram cars in the ‘train’ which each have 5 seats but they will only allow family (or friend) groups to ride together (or a single). Maybe we were lucky that Covid restrictions were in place which severely limited the number of people at the top and in the tram cars. While the parks service says the area at the top is large enough for 160 people, when you look at the photo gallery picture of the top, you’ll see that cramming that many people in that not- very- large space might be a stretch. As you ride up and down you see stairs, electrical cables and workshops which go by very quickly. The trams small doors have windows that can make them seem less claustrophobic. In the visitor center there is a model of the tram car that you can step into and see, if you are claustrophobic, whether or not you want to take the ride to the top. You are only aware of it if you approach from the front entrance. It was done very nicely with all of it below ground and landscaped into the parkland. Underneath the arch is the visitor center, museum, cafe and tram entry area. Larger windows would have made for much better viewing but the pressure on the section at the top of the arch dictated the small window size. The windows are 27” wide but a mere 7” high which hardly gives you the panoramic view you would expect from such a high vantage point. The trip takes about 4 minutes to get to the top where you can, on a rare clear day, see for 30 miles. Inside the arch is a tram that will take you to the top where you can disembark and take in the view and snap some photos. The arch is an impressive structure rising 630 feet above the surrounding parkland. To everyone it was known simply as the ‘ Gateway Arch’. When we were there in 1970 we were completely unaware of the name Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Gateway Arch National Park was added to the National Parks System in 2018. Formerly the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial this was designated the 60th national park in 2018.
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