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Gateway Arch Not ADA-Compliant, But I Made It To The Top Anyway

December 27, 2012 Accessibility, Downtown, Featured 2 Comments

When you are dating someone who tells you he has never been to the top of the Arch, you make plans to take him to the top. Easy enough, except when you are disabled.  Saarinen’s Gateway Arch was conceived long before the American’s with Disabilities Act of 1990 was signed into law by George H.W. Bush, back in a time when many physically disabled people were institutionalized.

The National Park Service website alerts visitors to the fact the Arch isn’t wheelchair accessible.    Yet much of the design of the Arch does permit wheelchair use, although the slopes exceed those allowed by the ADA. Other areas have steps but railings are pretty good. It’d be impossible to make the full Arch experience ADA-compliant.

ABOVE: Slope down to the north below grade museum entrance.
ABOVE: Slope down to the north below grade museum entrance.
ABOVE: After walking down a flight of stairs you reach the loading area for the tram to the top. Disabled passengers are assigned to the first car to make it easier.
ABOVE: After walking down a flight of stairs you reach the loading area for the tram to the top. Disabled passengers are assigned to the first car to make it easier.
ABOVE: Visitors must step up into the tram cars. They put this step out to help me but we ended  up moving it out of the way.
ABOVE: Visitors must step up into the tram cars. They put this step out to help me but we ended up moving it out of the way.
ABOVE: The most difficult part was walking on the curved floor at the top.
ABOVE: The most difficult part was walking on the curved floor at the top.
ABOVE: I did make it to the center, here with Dave (right)
ABOVE: I did make it to the center, here with Dave (right)
ABOVE: Looking east at Illinois
ABOVE: Looking east at Illinois
ABOVE: Looking northwest toward downtown
ABOVE: Looking northwest toward downtown

Thanks to Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Superintendent Tom Bradley and his staff for answering my questions beforehand. Depending on someone’s ability to navigate steps and walk on a curved floor they can reach the top.

— Steve Patterson

 

 

Currently there are "2 comments" on this Article:

  1. JZ71 says:

    Congratulations . . . . the other challenge that’s not fixable is for people with claustrophobia . . . .

     
    • Thanks! Years ago I didn’t like being in the tram with four other people even though two were relatives. This time was an off time so Dave and I were the only two in our pod.

       

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