Our Looper buddies on No Agenda, Jody and Mike, completed their Loop a few days ago and they offered to pick us up and show us around St Louis. Tagging along with us is Chris and Dan on MV Long Gone and Phil and Mary on MV Idaho Red.
Have a lot to see! We started at the Arch, America’s tallest monument and symbolic gateway to the West with a tram ride to the top. The Arch is a stainless Steel structure rising 630 feet above the Mississippi riverfront. It took two years to build and specialized equipment to allow each leg to align properly at the top.
This is what St Louis looked like fron 630 feet up!
The Museum of Westward Expansion is at the base of the Arch and it contains artifacts of the Lewis and Clark exhibition and the history of Missouri and the Western Territories.
The above is an Indian quiver for bow and arrows collected by Lewis and Clark.
Then we took a drive through LeCled, the old section of town where the first fur trading post was established in 1764. It has the old cobblestone streets and old warehouses.
Next we walked through the Cathedral Basilica of St Louis built in 1907 with ornate granite walls, twin towers and green tiled dome. Inside you find soaring arches and domes and intricate mosaics that cover 83000 square feet of the cathedral, as well as millions of pieces of glass that depict both old and New Testament scenes and the life of King Louis IX of France. This cathedral was amazing and so different, not so much in design but its ornamentation on its ceilings and upper walls were all mosaics.
We stopped for a short time at the Anheuser Busch Headquarters and perused the history and gift shop on their entry. Was interesting to find out that Anheuser purchased an existing brewery and transformed how beer was made, transported and packaged, basically revolutionizing the industry.
We managed to squeeze in time for an Italian Restaurant for lunch called Zia’s so we could experience the best Italian food, for which St Louis is famous. Had a delicious meal and there was so much food we will have it for dinner again tomorrow! We all sampled each other selections and decided that this was the best Italian food we have had. After lunch we walked to the Italian marble fountain in The Hill/ Italian section of St Louis.
and we walked to the Missouri Bakery and purchased cookies and breads and sweets. Just what we needed!?! We opened the cookies and shared while we drove to our next destination.
Next we visited Forest Park, the nations largest urban park with its statues and monuments and museums. At the history museum we learned about the history of St Louis, its trading, the great fire and rebuilding with brick and stone, still prevalent today in the city. Also learned how the city was impacted by the Civil War and the part it played in provisioning much of the western expansion. And of course, Bill found another large steering wheel from a steamship that plied the Mississippi.
On our way to Forest Park, we passed many large estates and homes that lined the streets around the park. Forest Park was the site of the 1904 Exposition and Celebration of the Louisiana Purchase - sort of like a World's Fair.
Of note: St Louis hosted the 1904 "World’s Fair "which showcased the Palace of Electricity containing an electric locomotive, trolley car and a variety of electric motors. The wireless telegraph and Ferris Wheel were also main exhibits at the Fair. We can blame this Fair for our poor eating habits as the event sponsors developed food which could be easily carried and eaten while perusing the fair exhibits. Examples are the waffle cone, cotton candy, iced tea, hamburgers and hotdogs, and Cherry Coke. Other foods first introduced were Jello, puffed rice and wheat cereal and peanut butter.
Our tour guide, Jody returned us to Alton. Was bittersweet to say good bye to Jody and Mike. We told them if they ever wanted another boat ride to come visit anytime. Have met so many wonderful people on this trip.