maam2025buildingmuseums

Explore the award-winning Gateway Arch Museum, an integral part of the revitalized Gateway Arch National Park. Located beneath the iconic Gateway Arch, this state-of-the-art museum offers a dynamic and immersive experience that tells the story of westward expansion, the cultural and historical forces that shaped the nation, and the innovative design of the Arch itself. Led by museum and National Park Service professionals, the tour will delve into the process of transforming this underground space through a $380 million public-private partnership. Discover how the museum’s redesign blends contemporary architecture, interactive exhibits, and sustainable strategies to create a world-class destination.
Please, plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled tour start time. Participants will first have to pass through airport level security. Tram rides to the top of the Arch are NOT included in this tour. Please make separate arrangements to ride the tram.

Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the historic Old Courthouse, as it nears the final stages of its remarkable renovation. This transformative project is the crowning achievement of the $380 million CityArchRiver initiative—the largest public-private partnership in National Park Service history. Led by representatives from the National Park Service and the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, this preview offers a first look at the revitalized spaces and innovative exhibits that bring new life to this iconic landmark. Learn about the meticulous preservation efforts, the inspiration behind the updated interpretation, and the exciting enhancements that will make the Old Courthouse a must-visit destination for generations to come.

Soldiers Memorial Military Museum opened in downtown St. Louis in 1938 as a memorial to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War I. Over the decades following its opening, the scope of memorialization increased as we lost service members. The exhibition galleries, originally built to hold the “relics of war,” also increased in scope and number of artifacts. By 2014, public concern had grown over the condition of the artifacts that had been on perpetual display, the lack of accessibility to the building, and the overall sad state of the building and its memorial grounds from decades of deferred maintenance.
With the support of local philanthropists, the City of St. Louis transferred operations to the Missouri Historical Society in 2015. In February 2016, the museum was closed and underwent a +$30 million renovation. It reopened on Veterans Day 2018. Learn about the museum’s dramatic transformation, while retaining its historic charm and integrity, from the Project Manager, Lead Architect, Landscape Architect, and Accessibility Consultant.
The tour will begin in the museum’s assembly hall with an introduction to the building and to the tour guides who were involved with the project. Visitors will then move throughout the museum and outdoor space with the four different tour guides addressing their areas of expertise. Visitors will have time to self-explore the exhibition galleries following the guided tour.

Join Meredith Malone, curator, for an interactive tour of the Kemper Art Museum on WashU's Danforth Campus. The tour will explore the Museum's architectural history and how it shapes the ways the permanent collection and exhibitions are displayed. Participants will learn about the building's design by Pritzker-Prize winning architect Fumihiko Maki and a recent expansion by the architectural firm KieranTimeberlake that was part of WashU's East End Transformation capital project.

Explore the Missouri Botanical Garden’s stunning Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center. Learn about the vision and impact of Garden’s capital campaign and the careful planning that brought this project to life. Discover how biophilic design principles were incorporated to create a space that connects visitors with nature, promotes well-being, and sets a new standard for sustainability. Plus, discuss with staff the lessons learned since the Center opened- how it enhances the visitor experience, supports the mission, and shapes future initiatives. The tour concludes with a guided walk through the Visitor Center, where you’ll see its vibrant plant displays, innovative design features, and spaces that inspire connection and discovery.