St. Louis

(updated Fri., Oct. 20, 2017)

St. Louis, MO

A great place to visit!

An even greater place to live!!

image sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_St._Louis & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis

Zagat U.S. Family Travel Guide

A couple years ago, Zagat Surveys and Parenting Magazine created the U.S. Family Travel Guide. They used the same approach for rating family attractions as they use to rate restaurants; they gathered surveys from 11,000 travelers, mostly parents, to judge 1,000 family attractions on their child appeal, adult appeal, public facilities, and service.

St. Louis fared well, placing three in the Top 10 in two categories, and five others in the rest of the survey. The "U.S. Family Travel Guide" listed the following attractions in their list:

-Strongest Kid Appeal:

1. The Magic House / http://www.magichouse.org
(#1 in the country! Beating out all things Disney!)
(Kirkwood, north of I-44, on Lindbergh)

-Best Overall Attractions:

4. St. Louis Zoo / http://www.stlzoo.org
(the top-ranking Zoo... yes, beating out the one in San Diego)
(Forest Park, west-central St. Louis city)

7. Grant’s Farm / http://www.grantsfarm.com
(East of I-270, on Gravois)

-Also ranking:

the St. Louis Science Center and Planetarium /
http://www.slsc.org
(Forest Park)

the City Museum / http://citymuseum.org/
(downtown)

the Butterfly House / http://www.thebutterflyhouse.org
(Chesterfield)

the Missouri Botanical Garden / http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org
(South City, near I-44 & Hampton)

Purina Farms / http://purinafarms.com
(Grey Summit)

-Restaurants that rated well include:

Crown Candy Kitchen / http://crowncandykitchen.net
(North City, just South of I-70)
(also seen on Man Vs. Food - http://www.tvfoodmaps.com/s4/Man-v-Food/MO/St%20Louis)

the St. Louis Bread Co. / https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/home.html/
(named Panera everywhere else)

Super Smokers / http://www.supersmokers.com

And USA Today just (Sep., 2016) voted the St. Louis Zoo as THE best free attraction in the entire country!

Best Free Attraction: St. Louis Zoo

The 90-acre St. Louis Zoo exhibits 600 species of animals representing every continent and major biome on the planet. It's also one of the nation's few zoos that offers free entry, though some exhibits and shows charge smaller admission fees. The zoo's Penguin & Puffin Coast exhibit is one of the best penguin habitats in the country, with four species of penguins and two species of puffins on display.

RESULTS: 10 Best Free Attractions

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2016/09/02/10best-readers-choice-budget-travel-winners/89764888/

Some of the food items and places that were not on Zagat’s list, but definitely worth trying / visiting:

-BBQ... we buy more BBQ sauce, per capita, than any place in the US. Maull’s BBQ Sauce is one reason why:

KETC | Living St. Louis | Maull’s BBQ Sauce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPYVPjfZMGc

-Thin crust pizza, as popularized by Imo’s and Cecil Whitaker’s

KETC | Living St. Louis | St. Louis Style Pizza

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI_x4VzmQAI

-Gooey Butter Cake
http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014032-st-louis-gooey-butter-cake
-Toasted Raviolis
http://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/25/garden/toasted-ravioli-the-secret-of-st-louis.html

-Fitz’s Root Beer (Central West End (not too far from Forest Park)
https://fitzsrootbeer.com

-Ted Drewes Frozen Custard / http://teddrewes.com
-Gus’ Pretzels (near the brewery) / http://guspretzels.com
-The Hill; Italian neighborhood home to Yogi Berra, Joe Garagiola, Frank Borghi, and many more... also too many great restaurants to visit in even a month eating out each night.
http://www.thehillstlouis.com & http://www.diningstl.com/TheHill.htm
-See also:
-KETC | Living St. Louis | The Hill: What’s Old and New
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0FvbM_-Gb8

-and
-“Yogi Berra, RIP - Who could forget the memories?”
-http://www.mayorslay.com/article/yogi-berra-rip

-Sauce Magazine covers our 1,000+ locally-owned restaurants, and provides everything else needed to “dine, drink, and live well”
http://www.saucemagazine.com

-St. Louis-style pizza is thin crust, cut in squares, and comes with provel cheese - made with real cheddar, swiss, and provolone - on top. If you don’t like the provel, just ask for mozzarella on top.
http://www.itsastlouisthing.com/servlet/the-154/Provel-Cheese--dsh--5/Detail

Named for King Louis IX, France

“Pierre Laclede Liguest, recipient of a land grant from the King of France, and his 13-year-old scout, Auguste Chouteau, selected the site of St. Louis in 1764 as a fur trading post. Laclede and Chouteau chose the location because it was not subject to flooding and was near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Construction of a village, named for Louis IX of France, began the following year. Most of the early settlers were French; many were associated with the fur trade. St. Louis transferred to the Spanish in 1770, returned to France under a secret treaty with Napoleon and, following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, became part of the United States. According to legend, on the day of transfer of the territory to the United States in 1803, St. Louis flew under three flags in one day--French, Spanish, and American.”

source: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/visit-play/stlouis-history.cfm

image sources:

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1011

http://archstl.org/becomingcatholic/page/saint-louis-king-france

King Louis IX

While we may not know the exact reason why Pierre Laclede named our city for King Louis XI, we do know that some of the King’s many saintly virtues inspire us still, today, and they include:

“In 1235 Louis came of age and began to rule France, though he still listened carefully to his mother's advice. Even in childhood, his compassion for the poor and suffering people had been obvious to all who knew him and when he became king, it burst into full flower. Over a hundred poor people ate in his house on ordinary days and many more on holidays. Often the king served these guests himself.

Such acts of charity, coupled with Louis' devout religious practices, gave rise to the legend that he joined the Third Order of St. Francis, people who lived simply in their own homes and devoted much time to prayer and service to the poor. Though it is unlikely that Louis did join the order, his life and actions certainly proclaimed him one of them in spirit.

Louis once asked his friend and biographer, John de Joinville, whether John had ever washed the feet of the poor on Maundy Thursday, a custom following the example of Jesus, who washed His disciples' feet. "God forbid, sir!" replied John, always a blunt and honest man. "No, I will not wash the feet of those brutes!"

That, said Louis, was a poor answer, and he urged John not to despise Jesus' lesson, but to begin the practice himself.

Louis also gave generous gifts of money to poor people whether others considered them worthy or not. Monks and nuns, widows and prostitutes, gentlefolk fallen on hard times and minstrels too old or sick to perform, Louis gave happily to them all.

He also built hospitals and homes for those who needed them. One hospital for blind people near Paris included a chapel so the three hundred men who stayed there could attend worship services. A hostel outside Paris became home to a large group of women who had been driven by poverty to prostitution. Louis called it the House of the Daughters of God.

Louis had a special place in his heart for people in religious orders and helped all those who asked for his support. His first great building was an abbey at Royaumont. He carried stones for its construction and later spent hours there, singing and eating with the monks, praying, and seeking God's peace.

Many more convents and monasteries followed Royaumont and sometimes people close to Louis scolded him for giving so much money away. Louis' reply was quick and sharp.

"I would rather my extravagance should be in almsgiving for the love of God than in the pomp and vainglory of this world."

Baldwin II, Latin emperor at Constantinople, felt deep gratitude to Louis for his generosity to Christians in the Middle East -- and, most likely, for settling some of Baldwin's own debts, too. In 1239, the emperor gave Louis the Crown of Thorns, said to be worn by Jesus on the Cross. Louis took his whole court with him to meet the Dominican brothers who brought the Crown to France. Then, to house this treasure, he tore down his chapel of St. Nicholas and built the lovely Sainte Chapelle.”

source: http://archstl.org/becomingcatholic/page/saint-louis-king-france

Saint King Louis wrote a letter to his son just before he died. Some of the letter’s advice includes:

“"Fair son, the first thing I would teach thee is to set thine heart to love God; for unless he love God none can be saved. Keep thyself from doing aught that is displeasing to God, that is to say, from mortal sin. Contrariwise thou shouldst suffer every manner of torment rather than commit a mortal sin.

"If God send thee adversity, receive it in patience and give thanks to our Saviour and bethink thee that thou hast deserved it, and that He will make it turn to thine advantage. If He send thee prosperity, then thank Him humbly, so that thou becomest not worse from pride or any other cause, when thou oughtest to be better. For we should not fight against God with his own gifts.

"Confess thyself often and choose for thy confessor a right worthy man who knows how to teach thee what to do, and what not to do; and bear thyself in such sort that thy confessor and thy friends shall dare to reprove thee for thy misdoings. Listen to the services of Holy Church devoutly, and without chattering; and pray to God with thy heart and with thy lips, and especially at Mass when the consecration takes place. Let thy heart be tender and full of pity toward those who are poor, miserable, and afflicted, and comfort and help them to the utmost of thy power.

"Maintain the good customs of thy realm and abolish the bad. Be not covetous against thy people and do not burden them with taxes and imposts save when thou art in great need.”

source: http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/LOUIS.HTM

One definition of a saint, as shared at Mass by Deacon Jacob, is a good influence for us all:

“A saint is a sinner who kept trying.”

We are all called to be saints, and each of us can achieve sainthood... with help.

As Patrick Coffin says “Be a saint. What else is there?”

Strong Catholic Church presence

So Ann Marie and I are most thankful that neighbors and others at Church have helped us grow in our faith. And, as we have joked with some... clearly all faiths are represented in town... it’s just nice that St. Loius has such a strong presence of our one, true, Catholic and apostolic faith .

While I have always lived here, and while Ann Marie has been here since her the early 1990s, we came to better appreciate St. Louis much more since our children were born. Since then, we have been much more involved in activities around town. Beyond the popular ones Zagat notes are others not always mentioned until you read guide books or talk to someone local:

-The strong presence of the Catholic Church, through

the Archdiocese of St. Louis / http://archstl.org

and the Diocese of Belleville, IL / http://www.diobelle.org

The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
http://snows.org
&
http://snows.org/about-us/shrine-history/
AM1460 - KHOJ / AM-1080 - WR

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN ST. LOUIS, MO

-The Gateway Arch is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial - http://www.nps.gov/jeff - which also includes the Old Courthouse.

The Arch symbolizes the westward migration, as people populated the US, very often gathering their provisions in St. Louis before continuing westward.

In the Old Courthouse, Dred Scott, a former slave who had later been brought to a free state, won his freedom. That decision was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, a major factor leading up to the Civil War.

Learn more about the Old Courthouse at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrdTE7-t72M

More on the Harriett Scott Memorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwxfUZ9zGYg

When you visit, you should allow time for a ride on the Gateway Riverboats, the Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher, which offer many different rides up and down the third longest river in the world. They even offer a tour of the bridges across the Mississippi River, which helped Matt’s Webelos Patrol earn their Engineering Activity Badge.

http://gatewayarch.com
&
http://gatewayarch.com/experience/gateway-arch-riverboat-cruises/

The Arch has the shape of a cantenary curve, which can be simulated holding a chain / necklace upside-dow.

The Arch is 1) as wide at its base as it is tall - 630 feet, and 2) the thickness of each leg is smaller at the top than at the base, as they wanted it to be taller.

Looking straight up, just before entering the Arch from the north leg entrance, showing the tapering of each leg as it climbs higher.

The same photo, as edited by our daughter within the ProCamera app, for an awesome effect.

Another view of the Arch, from the north leg, looking south; captured using an Olloclip fish-eye lens.

- Straight across the mighty Mississippi River is Illinois, and the Gateway Geyser, the tallest fountain in the world. It sprays multiple times a day.

You can drive across, and those with energy can walk across the Eads Bridge to see it.

http://www.meprd.org/gatewaygeyser.html

The Gateway Geyser, as seen from the top of Arch.

- St. Louis is located here, in part, because it is where the Missouri, Illinois, and Mississippi Rivers flow together.

You can also get a great view of one of the greatest river confluences in the world, from where Lewis & Clark camped before departing on their journey, right there in Hartford, IL, atop the Confluence Tower... just look at the rivers, see the edge-on view of the North leg of the Arch, see the Cathedral and other sights in the STL skyline... look left and see all the Illinois side offers... what views!

http://www.confluencetower.com

I-270 north, into Illinois, then north on Illinois Rte. 3.

- While there in Hartford, IL, also check out:

Lewis & Clark’s Camp Du Bois Fort
(where they wintered before departing on their historic journey)

The Wood River Refinery History Museum
(the refinery is still one of the top 10 producers in the US)

CP Pinball Arcade
- If you continue north on Route 3, you will come to:

Alton, IL, home to:

Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man, and his statue

the Lincoln-Douglas debates

and North of Alton, you can see the Piasa bird painted high atop the bluffs

http://www.altonweb.com/history/piasabird/
&
http://www.greatriverroad.com/Cities/Alton/PiasaBird.htm

You can also visit Pere Marquette State Park.

http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R4/Peremarq.htm

In 2013, Abby’s class assignment was to write a report about a Native American tribe. She selected the Huron, who initially lived in northern New York and Ontario, and who moved to Wisconsin, Michigan, and onto Kansas after battles with other tribes.

In 2014, when visiting St. Ignace and Mackinac Island, MI, we learned that Pere Marquette was the missionary priest who travelled with the Huron!

http://vanvooren.us/VV/Michigan.html
- We typically drive to Alton via I-270 North, to Hwy 367 North... straight across the Clark Bridge (see more, below).

On the way you can visit the first United States military installation west of the Mississippi - Fort Bella Fontaine.
http://stlouisco.com/ParksandRecreation/ParkPages/FortBelleFontaine

It has some impressive views all around, including looking down toward the Mississippi River.

You may be able to see an eagle flying!
- During winter, the rivers remain frozen until they flow near St. Louis. Because of this, over the past several years, eagles have come to roost during winter months. Some now live here year-round. Alton celebrates Eagle Days during January every year now.

http://www.greatriverroad.com/Eagles/eagleevents.htm
&
http://www.visitalton.com/feature-stories/detail/5/eagle-count
- Many of the Eagle Day events are held at the National Great Rivers Museum, which has many awesome insights into the Big Muddy, and also has a barge simulator - they are not easy to steer.
http://www.greatriverroad.com/Cities/EAlton/riverMuseum.htm
&
http://www.jnpa.com/ngrm.shtml

The museum is located next to the Melvin Price Lock & Dam #26, the 2nd-last dam before New Orleans... the last is just south, at the Chain of Rocks, and is less accessible that #26 here in Alton.

St. Louis has many notable bridges crossing our great rivers, including:

- The Clark Bridge, spanning the Mississippi between northern St. Charles and Alton, IL; featured on the PBS NOVA Episode “Super Bridge”:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bridge/

See also:
http://www.altonweb.com/history/clarkbridge/index2.html

- The Eads Bridge, spanning the Mississippi between St. Louis, MO and
East St. Louis, IL.
- the first to cross the Mississippi
- the first steel bridge in the world, build by the up-and-coming Andrew Carnegie.
See http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eads/peopleevents/p_carnegie.html
and also The History Channel’s “The Men Who Built America” - https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/the-men-who-built-america/id564395250
- the first using cantilever supports exclusively

During the spring, 2008 flood

- The New Mississippi River Bridge, since named the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge, crosses the Mississippi just north of downtown. It opened to vehicular traffic Sunday February 9, 2014, the day after a public “open house.”
- the third-longest cable-stayed bridge in the world
- Facts are available at: http://newriverbridge.org/overview-bridge.html
- We rode our bikes across it that cold morning, with six inches of snow the night before:

-In part because of the soil, and because of our climate near the 38th latitude - the same as northern California and France, Missouri has America's first officially named “American Viticultural Area” (AVA) - Augusta, MO, ~ 45 min west of downtown.

Learn more at AppellationAmerica.com and in the links in Winery section of the STL Favorites page below. Missouri was second only to New York in wine production before Prohibition.

http://www.missouriwinecountry.com

http://missouriwine.org/, aka http://nortonsays.com

http://www.nortonfestival.com

-The home of the world’s first monster truck, Bigfoot - http://bigfoot4x4.com
(something that I only appreciated after a History Channel Modern Marvels show)

- Our “own” one-ring “European-style” circus, Circus Flora / http://www.circusflora.org
An amazing treasure!

-Home of the most World Series Championship trophies in the National League, and home to more than everywhere but Yankee Stadium; the St. Louis Cardinals have 11 World Series Championships: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com

-How and why did the Budweiser Clydesdales come to be?
KETC | Living St. Louis | Clydesdales:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjGWW9--DxQ

-The Grandfather of Rock ‘n Roll, Chuck Berry, was from St. Louis. And, up to a couple years ago, he played monthly at Blueberry Hill (http://www.blueberryhill.com), in the U-City ([Washington] University City) Loop (http://www.ucityloop.com), which is named for the place where the streetcars used to turn around for the return trip downtown, and today is home to trendy shops and some great restaurants.

Chuck Berry is widely recognized as the grandfather of rock and roll, a direct influence on The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and others, and an indirect influence on almost any band since then.

Mr. Barry passed March 17, 2017. May his soul rest in peace.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/rock-legend-chuck-berry-dies-at-police-report/article_ff0a2a77-8b25-5573-868c-dcbf7674372e.html

https://www.instagram.com/_chuckberry/

-Laumeier Sculpture Park - http://laumeiersculpturepark.org - is just one of the many great cultural institutions / museums we have it boasts one of the largest outdoor sculpture gardens in the world (I-270 & I-44).

-The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second oldest in America, and plays at Powell Symphony Hall. http://www.stlsymphony.org

-Collinsville, IL is both home to the world’s largest ketchup/catsup bottle (http://www.catsupbottle.com), and is also the horseradish capital of the world (http://www.horseradishfestival.net).

-The Great River Road provides a flat bike ride or drive along some of the most beautiful Mississippi River scenery between Minnesota and New Orleans.
See:
http://www.mississippiriverinfo.com
&
http://www.greatriverroad.com/

-The Museum of Transportation is home to one of the largest collections of transportation vehicles in the world, including over 70 real locomotives representing the rail power that built and still moves America.
http://www.transportmuseumassociation.org

-The Museum of Transportation is located in Kirkwood, MO, which is named for James Kirkwood, as he engineered the creation of the railroad tunnel in Kirkwood for the Frisco railroad. He also led the work to build the Starruca Viaduct near Lanesboro, Pennsylvania, “considered to be the most expensive railroad bridge at the time, as well as the largest stone viaduct, and for its first use of concrete in American bridge construction.” (source: Wikipedia)

-Real coal-fired steam and diesel-powered engines power 12-inch guage (wide enough for up to one parent or one parent and one child) rides on the Wabash, Frisco, and Pacific Railroad on summer Sundays (11am-4pm May through October).
See: http://wfprr.com & http://vanvooren.us/VV/WFPRR.html

-While the wooden trains themselves are now made in the factory 90 miles away, in Louisiana, MO, the Whittle Shortline Railroad is still open for parties, train play by kids of all ages and sizes, and sales of their great trains: Thomas/Brio/etc.-like, but the real thing… Amtrak, Union Pacific, BNSF, and the other Class I RRs, many fallen flags, and “The Little Engine that Could.”
https://woodentrain.com

-State history at the Missouri History Museum - http://www.mohistory.org, in Forest Park, which is also the one store in town where you can still purchase artwork by John Pils.

-The World Bird Sanctuary - http://www.worldbirdsanctuary.org

-The Endangered Wolf Center, started by Marlin and Carol Perkins - http://www.endangeredwolfcenter.org/#.

-The Moto Museum - http://www.themotomuseum.com

-The International Photography Museum - http://iphf.org

-The St. Louis Mercantile Library (first west of the Mississippi), located at UMSL / the University of Missouri - St. Louis (http://www.umsl.edu) - http://www.umsl.edu/mercantile/art-museum/index.html

-The St. Louis Mercantile Library, John W. Barringer III National Railroad Library - http://www.umsl.edu/mercantile/barriger/index.html

-The St. Louis Mercantile Library, Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterway Library - http://www.umsl.edu/mercantile/pott/index.html

-Dana Brown (RIP), of Dana Brown Safari Coffee (morning coffee commercials on AM 1120 KMOX - http://stlouis.cbslocal.com) - http://www.danabrowncharitabletrust.org/bio.html.

St. Louis’ newest museum, the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum.

As noted by KETC / Channel 9’s Living St. Louis YouTube video post (video below):

“A visit to the St. Louis branch of the Karpeles Library Manuscript Museum. It is the 14th Karpeles Library and the latest in the system founded by California scientist and collector Dr. David Karpeles. The Libraries hold the world’s largest private archive of important original manuscripts and documents.”

Some of the St. Louis Museum ‘s items include:

-“The Great Soulard Discovery Map
-The Original from which a copy was used by Lewis and Clark.”
-“Saint Louis Application to the Baseball National League ”
-“Proclamation of the French approval of the Louisiana Purchase”
-Charles Lindbergh’s landing certificate, from when he arrived in Paris

The museum is located near I-44 and Grand, just south of the Compton Heights Water Tower.

-Some of the best hand-made chocolate anywhere, including:

Bissinger’s / http://bissingers.com
(recipies from Napoleon’s chef... really... http://www.bissingers.com/aboutus.asp)
See also this video:
KETC | Living St. Louis | Bissinger’s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us_2zeZN2dk

Crown Candy Kitchen / http://crowncandykitchen.net
(as noted above)

Kipp’s Candies / Gourmet Chocolates / http://www.kippscandies.com
(a personal favorite, though very stiff competition!) (sadly now closed)

Merb’s Candies / https://www.facebook.com/merbscandies

-Daniel Boone lived here, in St. Charles, the latter half of his life
http://www.lindenwood.edu/boone/

-The Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park
(Kirkwood - Ballas & Dougherty Ferry Road, turn south)
http://www.ebsworthpark.org

-Route 66 runs straight through town, on it’s route, from Chicago to LA
http://www.theroadwanderer.net/66Missouri/stlouis.htm
-Pole Position’s amazingly fast go-karts
https://www.polepositionraceway.com/st-louis
-Fun in the trees, at Go Ape, in Creve Coeur Park.
https://goape.com/zip-line/missouri-creve-coeur-park

Parks to visit

- Dr. Edmund A. Babler State Park (West County)
http://www.mostateparks.com/park/dr-edmund-babler-memorial-state-park
- Castlewood State Park (Ballwin / West County)
http://mostateparks.com/park/castlewood-state-park
- An awesome app for all Missouri State Parks:
http://www.pocketranger.com/apps/missouri
- Rockwoods Reservation (10 min from Babler; MO DNR)
http://mdc.mo.gov/regions/st-louis/rockwoods-reservation
- Forest Park (St. Louis City; almost 1.5x larger than New York’s Central Park)
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/parks/parks/Forest-Park.cfm
- The Great Rivers Greenway (all across town)
http://www.greatriversgreenway.org/greenways/confluence-greenway.aspx

&
http://www.mcttrails.org/confluence_trail.aspx

St. Louis County Parks
http://www.stlouisco.com/ParksandRecreation/ParkPages

Missouri State Parks, St. Louis region

https://mostateparks.com/page/57758/st-louis-region

Missouri Conservation Department, St. Louis Region

http://mdc.mo.gov/atlas/region/stl

St. Louis City

Current City landmarks:
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/cultural-resources/Current-City-Landmarks.cfm

Mayor Slay’s website also has great insights about our City:
http://www.mayorslay.com

The City’s awesome flag:

Its symbolism, described here, resulted in a 5th Ranking of best American City Flags Survey of 2004,

http://nava.org/digital-library/design/surveys/2004-American-City%20Flags-Survey.pdf

source:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8051/8434099052_07410ffcac_z.jpg

America’s Best Fourth of July celebration - Fair St. Louis

(you haven’t enjoyed fireworks until you see them under the Arch, and then feel the arch “tilt over” as the smoke creates an optical illusion!)

http://www.fairsaintlouis.org

- Missouri is second only to Tennessee for the number of our caves. Many are on private land. Many are on public land. All require visitors to be careful. Some are show caves that provide tours, like those listed in Missouri Life Magazine.

See also:
http://missouricaves.com/mo-map.htm
&
http://vanvooren.us/Missouri/MO_Caves.html
- The first link between modern man and mastodons (similar to, but different from, wolly mammoths) was discovered just a couple miles from downtown, off I-55, in Mastodon State Park.
http://www.mostateparks.com/park/mastodon-state-historic-site

-The nation's first kindergarten was founded here, just south of Busch stadium:

http://shs.umsystem.edu/historicmissourians/name/b/blow/index.html

http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/susan-blow.html

-Local photographer Michael Kilfoy coordinated photographs from himself and other amazing photographers around town, and his “St. Louis Seen and Unseen” provides an amazing insight into the people who live in our town.
http://www.stlouisseenandunseen.com

-Insights into most of these attractions, and into so much more, are available via the online archive of the local PBS show “Living St. Louis”. The show segments are available online at
http://ninenet.org/local-productions/living-st-louis
&
https://www.youtube.com/user/ketc9

Two short videos from “Living St. Louis” that celebrate our city’s Architecture are:

-“Architecture Photos”
http://ninenet.org/archives/25231
-“More Architecture Photos”
http://ninenet.org/archives/25234

Some of the many great photographers of our City include:

-Ken Konchel
http://www.kenkonchelphoto.com
-Richard Sprengler
http://www.richardsprengeler.com
-Alise O’Brien
http://www.aliseobrienphotography.com

-The Smithsonian Channel’s “Aerial America” show, “Missouri” episode:
http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/aerial-america/missouri/701/3402671
&
http://vanvooren.us/VV/Missouri.html

-Some great reads that share more about St. Louis, and Missouri:

“Amazing St. Louis: 250 Years of Great Tales and Curiosities”
by Charlie Brennan
http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-St-Louis-Years-Curiosities/dp/1935806564

“Passing It On: The Folklore of St. Louis - Its Traditions, Superstitions, Rituals, and Folk Beliefs”
by John L. Oldani
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5056515-passing-it-on

“St. Charles, Then and Now”
by Vicki Berger Erwin and Jessica Dreyer
http://www.amazon.com/Charles-Then-Vicki-Berger-Erwin/dp/0738583529

“A Most Unsettled State: First-Person Accounts of St. Louis During the Civil War”
by NiNi Harris
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18471933-a-most-unsettled-state

“It Happened in Missouri: Remarkable Events That Shaped History”
by Sean McLachlan
http://www.globepequot.com/it_happened_in_missouri-9780762771936