Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

Living not too far from St. Louis Missouri, we have had the privilege as a family of visiting the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. This includes the St. Louis Gateway Arch of course, as its main attraction.

Having gone there to visit a few times, I didn't realize at first that there was such a neat underground area and visitors center there. It has incredible displays, and is like a history and art museum almost. There are even little gift shops, some that are old fashioned that you would find long long ago in America. It is definitely worth the extra time to plan to visit this part of the Memorial.

It may or may not be well known, but people can travel up into the arch and go all the way to the top. You see quite a view from there! One of the times we had my husband's parents visiting us, we decided to go all the way to the top, though we had to take two separate little cars to do so.

This hub shows a gallery of photos from the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, but especially the underground area. You can see so much more than I show here, but you can get an idea of the sheer educational value of visiting this very neat place in the Midwest USA. You can almost make a day of it if you like. There is a neat history of how the arch was built and why, and a lot about American history including a lot about the Native American Indians and settlers, and ways of life.

I have been to this underground portion of the memorial twice now. Do you know that both times I felt rushed to get through it all, there was so much to see? My hope is to go back and fully take it all in, and learn all I can along the way.

There is of course the Mississippi River close by as well. There is a neat open park area with lots of shade trees which allows for a wonderful picnic opportunities. You will find many opportunities to create memories with your loved ones there, including pictures right on the waterfront near the Mississippi.

If you are like me and actually live in the area, you will be all the richer for fully taking in all the sites this area has to offer. Don't forget, that the Botanical Gardens, the Zoo Science Museum and Art Museum and so much more is also nearby.

Make sure to view all the pictures in the thumbnails, or view the slide show option to make sure you see all the photos in this gallery hub.

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