Gateway to the West

 Last night the fun of seeing our family continued when my aunt and uncle and Grandpa from Michigan drove down to see us.:)   It is always a time full of laughing and fun when everyone is together.:) 

 Today we headed off to Saint Louis to see the arch a.k.a. the Gateway to the west.  This monument was completed in  1965, it is a monument to the idea of Thomas Jefferson sending Louis and Clark off on their great expedition  to explore the great frontier.  That is all well and good, but the kids couldn't believe how big it was!!!  I came here when I was five with my parents and I was so excited for the kids to experience going up in the arch, too.:)


mom, Mary, Grandpa and the kids

  The museum at the foot of the arch is great for explaining the expansion into the west of North America.  there were so many neat exhibits  for the kids ( and adults) to look at which explained how the pioneers settled the frontier and about the lives of the native Americans.  It is definitely worth checking out!!:)


Small arch inside the museum




Native American exhibit with Mom and Mary




kids and Grandpa in front of a huge buffalo




Dad and the kids:)




Jeremy touching beaver skins which the Native Americans would trap












Of  course, we had to go on the tram to go up the 630 feet to the top of the arch.  I was feeling okay about it until they said it was the original tram which was built in 1965...then, I got a little nervous.  When I went up in the arch when I was five, I wasn't as worried about all the safety issues.;)


getting ready to get on the tram:)




Yes, the elevator is really that small..only 4 -5 five people can ride in it...it is not for anyone who is claustrophobic



Mom, Dad, and the kids at the top of the arch...we made it!!!! ( It took 4 minutes to get to the top)



Old capital building




"what's out there?"




Mom and Lizzy looking out




Mighty Mississippi




Uncle Dave and Jeremy:)



yep...it's really 630 feet up!!!

Today was so fun to get to experience the arch again.  It is neat to experience the arch through a child's eyes and now through my own adult eyes.  Some things seem very different...but the excitement of getting to the top is definitely the same.:)  The kids loved it an best of all, we got to experience it with dear members of our family!:)