What was found in the time capsule hidden at the top of the St. Louis Gateway Arch?

Most people who visit the Gateway Arch ride to the top to look out at the city of St. Louis, or across the Mississippi River into Illinois. What they may not realize is that the arch also provides a look back in time.

It wasn’t a secret when the Arch was built over half a century ago, but today most visitors don’t know there was a time capsule hidden at the top of the Gateway Arch. Near the end of construction, on Oct 27, 1965, the time capsule was welded into the keystone piece before it, as the final segment of the Arch, was set in place.

The Arch receives regular maintenance; eventually construction workers “unearthed” the time capsule. After examination, it was determined to be original from the time the monument was built. The most peculiar thing about this hidden gem, however, is what's inside it. In lieu of relics or accounts of important historical events, the time capsule contains the signatures of 762,000 everyday citizens of St. Louis, including 1,500 schoolchildren.

In July 2018, after a five-year, $380-million renovation, Gateway Arch Park reopened. The area around the arch itself had undergone extensive upgrades, including five miles of walking and cycling paths, and an outdoor amphitheater. The park grounds were not the only area renovated, however. The visitor center and museum at the base of the Arch were expanded and redesigned, with a more elegant waterfront and six new galleries, which give visitors something to do while waiting for the tram to the top.