ST. LOUIS—Celebrated annually on the third Saturday in May, Kids to Parks Day is a national day of play that connects kids and families to their local, state and national parks. On Saturday, May 18, Gateway Arch National Park invites the public to discover St. Louis’ urban national park with an array of free activities focused on nature, including an appearance by PBS KIDS’ Nature Cat, a star show at the Challenger Learning Center’s portable planetarium and the park’s recurring “Gateway to the Stars” program. More information is available at gatewayarch.com.

KIDS TO PARKS DAY: 12-4 p.m.
Head to the mezzanine inside the Gateway Arch Visitor Center for these special daytime activities:

• Participate in the Night Skies Junior Ranger program. Complete a Junior Ranger booklet and earn a unique Night Skies patch.
• Explore the constellations with the flight crew from the Challenger Learning Center! The center’s portable planetarium will be set up in the Arch Visitor Center and host a star show that will allow visitors to see the universe like never before.
• Meet PBS KIDS’ Nature Cat and take photos.
• Take selfies in the star-studded photo booth.

GATEWAY TO THE STARS: GHOSTS OF THE ARCH GROUNDS: 8-10 p.m.
At 8 p.m., meet at the west entrance of the Gateway Arch for “Ghosts of the Arch Grounds,” a ranger-led twilight talk. Long before the Gateway Arch was built, the area served as the core of St. Louis, evolving from a French-style fur trading post to a warehouse district, to the present-day national park site. Learn about the events, personalities and tragedies involved in the development of a great city. 

Weather permitting, this talk will be followed by free telescope viewing on the West Entrance Plaza from 8:30 to 10 p.m., led by volunteers from the St. Louis Astronomical Society. The nearly full moon and other objects will be seen. The ranger talk will be cancelled in the event of heavy rain, while the telescope viewing will need at least partly clear skies. Call 314-655-1708 the afternoon of May 18 for an update on the weather status.

Gateway Arch Visitor Reminders
Visitors to the Arch must enter the monument at the new glass west entrance, which faces the Old Courthouse. The Arch legs are exits only. Entrance to the Arch Visitor Center and the Museum at the Gateway Arch is free.

Gateway Arch National Park does not have designated on-site visitor parking. A list of preferred parking locations near the park can be found at http://getaroundstl.com. Metered street parking is also available around the park.

The Tram Ride to the Top of the Arch sells out early and often. It is strongly encouraged to purchase your tram ride tickets in advance at gatewayarch.com/buytickets. Please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of your scheduled tram time. For more information, visit nps.gov/jeff or gatewayarch.com, or call 877-982-1410.

ABOUT: The Gateway Arch and the Old Courthouse are part of Gateway Arch National Park, located on the riverfront in downtown St. Louis. The Gateway Arch, which features the Tram Ride to the Top, the Museum at the Gateway Arch, the documentary film Monument to the Dream, The Arch Store and The Arch Café, is open daily during the winter from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The Old Courthouse is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. The park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The Old Courthouse is located at 11 North Fourth Street, St. Louis, MO 63102.  Most programs are FREE of charge and open to the public. Programs and events at the park are made possible by the generous support from our cooperating association, Jefferson National Parks Association, and Bi-State Development. To purchase Arch tickets, go online to gatewayarch.com, call 877-982-1410 or visit the ticket counter in the Arch Visitor Center.