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Thousands of plants are growing here! Click the drop-down menus to find which species are growing in each location. At the bottom of the page, learn about the significance of the landscape and check out our What's In Bloom blog.
Notable landscape features on the Gateway Arch grounds (simplified and abbreviated)
NPS Photo Parts of the landscape and species planted thereClick the drop-down menus to learn what's planted in each location.Our most widespread plant is ornamental turf grass, shown as green on the above map. The grass is a hardy and fast-growing fescue blend and covers 74 acres. During the height of the growing season, it needs to be mowed once or twice a week. Keeping the lawn looking its best would be a full-time job for at least two people from April to October! There is a timer-controlled sprinkler irrigation system to supply the grass with all the water it needs, but the watering schedule is flexible depending on rainfall. In Luther Ely Smith Square (below the Old Courthouse on the map above) the grass and all other plants are irrigated with stormwater that is filtered and stored in a 36,000-gallon water retention basin. The monoculture-lined walking paths (allées) are considered character-defining features of the Gateway Arch’s landscape design. As a contributing feature to a historic landscape listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the allées are protected under National Register Criteria A and C. Learn more about the significance of this historic cultural landscape here and here. The Baldcypress (sometimes spelled Bald Cypress) trees on the arch grounds are some of the oldest in the landscape; some of them were planted prior to 1980. Though there are beautiful mature Baldcypress trees in several locations throughout the arch grounds, they are easiest to find in the Baldcypress circles (the red circles to the on the upper left and upper right corners of the map above).
These small hideaways, lined with grey gravel, provide visitors with a tranquil place to sit and relax. The two zen gardens in Luther Ely Smith Square (just below the Old Courthouse on the map above) are heavily shaded, providing comfortable respite during the summer heat, and each has four square rock structures for visitors to sit on. The two gardens just north and south of the park's entrance are smaller, with one rock seating structure each. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the zen gardens to picnic, journal, do some stretching, or simply to rest.
Our native meadow is almost 3 acres and consists of mostly Big Bluestem and Little Bluestem.
Until 2015, the north end of the park was dominated by a concrete parking garage. This garage was removed as part of the CityArchRiver renovation project to remove barriers between attractions in the downtown area and to incorporate more green space. Studies had also shown that there was ample parking (more than 2,000 spots!) downtown within a five-minute walk of the Arch. The soil under the garage was heavily compacted, but our talented gardeners were able to bring nature back into the space. The former parking garage is now the Explorer Garden and native meadow, as well as turf grass and pedestrian walkways.
What does the landscape mean?"I see architecture not as the building alone, but the building in relation to its surroundings, whether nature or man-made surroundings. I believe very strongly that the single building must be carefully related to the whole in the outdoor space it creates. In its mass and scale and material it must become an enhancing element in the total environment." Eero Saarinen, architect for the Gateway Arch From the earliest stages of planning for the Gateway Arch structure, the landscape surrounding the Arch has been an important consideration. The landscape around the Arch was designed in tandem with the monument by esteemed landscape architect Dan Kiley, who collaborated with Saarinen on many of his architectural projects. Since 1987, the Gateway Arch and its surrounding grounds have been protected as a National Historic Landmark. The grounds are considered a premiere example of mid-century modern landscape architecture. The memorial is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Because of the National Historic Landmark designation, the grounds are maintained in their original design as much as possible. Though it is unusual for a national park to have no natural plant life, Gateway Arch National Park’s preservation of the historic cultural landscape does support the mission of the National Park Service: to protect and preserve both natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. |
Last updated: September 4, 2025