ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

In 1764, a French fur trapper named Pierre Laclède set up a trading post on the western bank of the Mississippi. A natural stopover, St. Louis, the "River City", gained prominence as the U.S. raced into the West ("Gateway to the West"). Today, St. Louis is one of America's largest inland trading ports.

What to see?

• Gateway Arch: the nation's tallest monument (190 meters, that's twice the size of the Statue of Liberty), made of stainless steel, symbolizes the "Gateway to the West". Inside the Arch, 2 elevator modules bring the visitors to the top of the Arch - from up there, you have a great view of St. Louis!
• Jefferson National Expansion Memorial: this park is the center of tourism
• Old Cathedral: St. Louis' oldest church
• Old Courthouse: in 1847, Dred Scott sued for freedom from slavery here.
• Union Station: the castle-like building houses a shopping mall, food court, and entertainment center in a magnificent structure that was once the nation's largest and busiest railroad terminal
• Laclède's Landing: in the old dock area one can find charming cobblestone streets, beautiful renovated houses, and a lot of bars

There are still much more sights to visit (for example, Busch Memorial Stadium, City Hall, St. Louis Cathedral, Missouri Botanical Garden, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, etc.) but those are, in my view, the most interesting ones.

A New Look at St. Louis Gateway Arch
Missouri Travel Guide

Urbana-Champaign | Chicago | Amish Country | St. Louis
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