August 22, 2025

If you grew up in the St. Louis region, chances are you remember taking that quintessential field trip to explore the Museum beneath the Gateway Arch, riding the tram to the top, or learning about our justice system during a mock trial at the Old Courthouse. It’s a core memory from your childhood.

But, not every student in St. Louis has the opportunity to experience Gateway Arch National Park like this.

That’s why Gateway Arch Park Foundation established the Journey Fund in 2019 to ensure every child, no matter their circumstance, has the chance to discover the history and wonder of their hometown national park. 

What is the Journey Fund? 

The Journey Fund is a privately-funded program that makes it possible for more students to experience the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse through a full day of fun and learning. To qualify for the program, schools that apply must: 

• Be eligible for Title I Schoolwide Program support (learn more here)
• Have at least 40% student population from low-income households
• Be located within 2 hours of St. Louis
• Have a maximum of 75 students per visit

The program removes financial barriers by subsidizing transportation, meals, and Gateway Arch National Park’s ticketed activities, like the Tram Ride to the Top, riverboat excursions, and screening the “Monument to the Dream” documentary. 

The Journey Fund has served nearly 10,400 students since its creation. 

Since it was established in 2019, the Journey Fund has welcomed nearly 10,400 local students to Gateway Arch National Park. In 2024 alone 3,046 students, nearly 90% of whom qualified for free or reduced lunch, participated in Journey Fund programming. 
For these students, these funds provided a chance to learn, explore, and feel pride in their hometown national park.

Take it from Mrs. Rita Doublin, one of the many St. Louis elementary school teachers that have made The Arch their classroom for the day through the Journey Fund:

“The Journey Fund is a blessing. It allows us to offer an experience to our students that is second to none. This is typically our students’ first exploration inside of the Gateway Arch. The excitement and engagement factor is exhilarating for the students and teachers alike. When you look and see 50-65 third grade students obsessed with obtaining knowledge about Westward Expansion and cruising the Mississippi River with expressions of joy—it is infectious! We are both grateful and humbled the Journey Fund enables us to have this marvelous educational experience.”

Send one student to the Arch with a $25 donation. 

The Journey Fund has ignited thousands of students' journeys towards a love for our city, our history, and our collective future. But this program will only continue to grow and serve more schoolchildren with support from people like you. 

Please consider a gift to allow more students to create their own Arch memories today. 
 

A special thanks to the Regional Business council for providing initial and continued funding to make the Journey Fund possible. Additional support comes from AT&T, Bi-State Development, Emerson, Great Southern Bank, the Mary Ranken Jordan and Ettie A. Jordan Charitable Foundation, and individuals like you who believe in the power and joy of learning in our hometown national park.

Educators: Apply for the Journey Fund today

“The Journey Fund is a blessing. It allows us to offer an experience to our students that is second to none."

Mrs. Rita Doublin
St. Louis Area Elementary School Teacher