Goodbye to the Museum of Westward Expansion

It was with great surprise and sadness that I discovered today that one of the great museums run by the National Park Service has closed its doors. The Museum of Westward Expansion actually closed in February of 2015. This museum, located under the Arch in St. Louis, laid out in great detail all the various physical, historical, and cultural currents that flowed together to compel people to push the boundaries of our country farther and farther. But, as the linked article points out, it is making way for a new museum dedicated more specifically to St. Louis' place in that push. Here's looking forward to the new experience on my next visit to that great city.

AZBuck

This is a big surprise. I really liked that museum too!

My Missouri-resident daughter was even surprised at this news! She's visiting us at the moment, and said she'd been thinking about going down there later this summer. Now without the museum there, probably not....until they open the new museum.



Donna

They are building a whole new museum which should be open by Spring 2017. In the meantime, you need a timed ticket to enter the Arch lobby and ride the tram. You can buy them in advance online or at the old courthouse, they are not sold at the Arch. The old courthouse is now the visitor's center and has some of the old exhibits.