One of my most vivid memories of St. Louis is their famous glistening Gateway Arch. You can get to the top of the Arch, as I did, but don¹t expect to buy a Big Mac there. A great view of the new Busch Stadium and the surrounding city from 630 feet above the Mississippi River is what you will find on top of the Arch. The Arch was officially named the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial to honor President Thomas Jefferson, who dreamed of a continental United States, as well as the thousands of men and women pioneers who helped open the American West. Beneath the Arch, in the Museum of Westward Expansion, the opening of the American West comes alive through displays that narrate the story of the explorers Lewis and Clark, pioneers, Native Americans and Buffalo soldiers who helped shape America as a nation ³from sea to shining sea.²
While the Cardinals are the main attraction during the month of October, the other birds, our fine-feathered friends are always on view at the world famous Saint Louis Zoo. Ranked the #1 Zoo in the nation by the Zagat Survey, it is home to more than 5,000 critters with the goal to present animals in their native habitat. The newest bird displays include the innovative Penguin and Puffin coast, where these exotic cold-climate birds reside. I learned that the giant walk-through aviary‹-one of the largest in the world-was originally the Smithsonian Institution¹s 1904 World¹s Fair exhibit. Now the historic facility houses a state-of-the-art attraction called Cypress Swamp which recreates a habitat for birds native to the lower Mississippi. The Zoo, a wonderful family activity in beautiful Forest Park is one of the many free-of-charge attractions in this Gateway City.
Saint Louis is as famous for its brewing heritage as it is for being a great sports town. It is the world headquarters of Anheuser-Busch, the world¹s largest brewer. I particularly enjoyed the free tour of the historic Brew House and the elegant stained glass and brass décor of the stables for the majestic Budweiser Clydesdale Horses. The tour ends at the hospitality center where you and the other visitors can imbibe a freshly brewed glass of an Anheuser-Busch products.
Other sites to visit are the two homes occupied by the President and Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant (White Haven, his Victorian-style family house and Hardscrabble, the log cabin house he hand-built, now part of the Grant¹s Farm animal preserve petting zoo and Clydesdale breeding farm}; view the flight suit worn by aviator Charles Lindbergh on his historic Spirit of Saint Louis flight across the Atlantic at the Missouri Historic Museum; retrace the steps of the intrepid explorers Lewis & Clark at more than 25 locales around town; relive the Dred Scott¹s dramatic freedom trial that took place in St. Louis¹ Old Courthouse; be in the audience for a live performance by legendary rock Œn¹ roll legend Chuck Berry; and tour the historic home of frontiersman Daniel Boone.
St. Louis has more free world class attractions than anywhere in the United States outside of our nation¹s capital in Washington D.C. I was told that St.Louisans are proud of their tradition of opening the doors of their major cultural institutions at no charge to residents and visitors alike. In addition to the places I described, there is the world¹s largest collection of mosaic art outside of the Vatican at the magnificent Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis; Cahokia Mounds archeological site that contains the remains of the largest pre-Columbian city North of Mexico; and of course the interesting detours to experience ³kicks on Route 66.²
This last week in October could also mark the first victorious conclusion to the World Baseball Series for the St. Louis Cardinals and their baseball fans.
Copyright by Marcia Abramson.
E-mail: mascribe@ verizon.net
