Grand Staircase

The Grand Staircase is the broad concrete route from the Arch grounds atop the bluff down to Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard and the Mississippi River. It has about 65 steps, with two gently curving ramps alongside. It makes a handy 5–20-minute detour if you want to get down to the riverfront; take a ramp if you want the same connection without the stairs.

A plaque on the steps marks the Mississippi's August 1, 1993 high-water level: 49.58 feet, the highest level ever reported in St. Louis. The flood killed 50 people and caused billions of dollars in damage across the region. The marker is on the staircase itself, so the ramps won't take you to it.

The staircase is part of the grounds designed through the collaboration of architect Eero Saarinen and landscape architect Dan Kiley. The broad, sweeping walks echo the Arch's curve, tying the bluff-top lawn to the riverfront. The Arch and its surrounding landscape became a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

At the top, look down at the Mississippi and south along the river for passing traffic and riverboats. For a photo, keep a little of the railing or staircase in the foreground; it shows how the river sits below the Arch grounds. Pets are allowed, and you don't need a reservation for this short walk.