Luther Ely Smith Square

Lovely views of the Gateway Arch.

A great open space to view the Gateway Arch from a short distance. This really adds perspective to the scope of the arch. Lush grass to enjoy and plenty of space to run around.

It's so much fun there. So many nice things to see and water fountains for kids to play with them

What a amazing place to walk around at night especially. A beautiful park that goes down the middle of St. Louis very peaceful and clean. A hidden Gem for sure.

Really cool park for both kids and adults! Cool art sculpture and they are also interactive. You can climb on them.

Beautiful place to visit along with the Old Courthouse and Gateway Arch!

Very nice surprise in the middle of downtown. Kids loved playing in the water. Will be much better after the Arch construction is finished.

Downtown St. Louis- we visited the arch, but with ongoing renovations, there was limited access. It's still a magnificent structure, and the riverfront was bustling with people and activity. City Garden sculpture park was fun to walk through. Old courthouse was interesting. We didn't spent a lot of time at any one place but together it made a nice day of exploration.

Luther Ely Smith (1873-1951) was a local lawyer and civic booster. He has been described by the National Park Service as the "father of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial," which was renamed as the Gateway Arch National Park in 2018. In the 1930s, he conceived of the idea of a memorial to President Thomas Jefferson in Saint Louis, the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and opening of the West through the city. He chaired the Association to develop the memorial for nearly 15 years, every year but one from 1934 through 1949, after the design competition had been completed and the winner Eero Saarinen selected for his "Gateway Arch". Construction of the Gateway Arch started in 1963, after Smith's death; it fulfilled his vision of a symbol of the city to represent its role with the American West. The square is a landscaped green space that leads to the entrance of the Arch and is one of the best spots for a photograph or selfie with it or the Old Courthouse. [Review 17227 overall - 135 in Missouri - 744 of 2022.]