“The beginning of May is the peak time for birds migrating north for the summer," says Pam Sanfilippo, Chief of Museum Services and Interpretation, Gateway Arch National Park. “The first two weeks of May, we will turn off the Gateway Arch’s exterior lights to avoid the possible disorienting effect of the monument’s upward lighting on birds that migrate at night."
The exterior lights will be turned back on beginning Friday, May 15. The monument will be lit nightly through the summer.
Gateway Arch National Park remains temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 health situation. NPS is working with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor this rapidly changing situation. Gateway Arch National Park will notify the public when it resumes full operations via traditional media, as well as online at nps.gov/jeff and gatewayarch.com and on social media (@GatewayArchNPS).
SILENT SKIES VIRTUAL MURAL Learn more about the birds migrating through the Gateway Arch National Park grounds with this video of the “Silent Skies" mural, brought to you by St. Louis Arts Chamber of Commerce. The mural is a 678-piece collection of 8-inch by 8-inch squares of all the endangered birds of the world. Due to the current health situation, the mural is available to view in video format online.
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. #
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
