ST. LOUIS— The Gateway Arch will illuminate the skyline of St. Louis once again beginning on Dec. 19 and it will be back with brighter and more sustainable lights.

What You Need To Know

  • The Gateway Arch will once again illuminate the night sky after being dark for nearly two months

  • New cutting-edge technology will minimize night flares, protecting migrating birds

  • With new bulbs, energy consumption will be reduced by 60%

Dark since Oct. 16, the National Park System (NPS) has been upgrading the fixtures, which will provide a 60% reduction in energy consumption.

The Arch has been lighting the sky for over 20 years. However, several times a year, it goes dark to provide less impact during high times of bird migration.  

This new system using cutting-edge technology will reduce the flare in the night sky, keeping the birds protected on the Mississippi Flyway, a major migration highway through the city. It will also easily be controlled and use pinpoint accuracy for focus and color temperature.  

Some other upgrades include quicker lighting progression from bottom to top in approximately 30 seconds and the automatic activation of lights based on calculated sunrise and sunset times.

The Gateway Foundation paid for this endeavor. Fixtures taken down will be given a new life at the City Museum.

If you would like to see the relighting of the Arch in person, Kiener Plaza and Citygarden offer extraordinary views. Be sure to arrive by sunset.

A short film by artist Cami Thomas will be released the same night. The film explores not only the architecture and national identity of the Arch but also one of local resilience.