One More Off The Bucket List

I don't remember how many years I have been wanting to visit this site.

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.

We gotter done!!!

We chose the perfect day.

We are staying at Carlyle Lake, another COE park (more on this later), just west of the big city.

It was easy to get to off I 64...the first photo taken upon first glimpse of the arch.

Found a parking space and followed the signs on the sidewalk to get there...as if you needed guidance.

 You are given a number for this tiny container, and cram five people in it for your ride to the top...630 feet up.

It is kind of like riding an elevator and ferris wheel...only four minutes to the top.

Wallace got to sit in the middle which is better for people his size, more head room.

The view is limited and you don't see much.

Once at the top, there are these little windows to look out for picture taking and viewing.

What a spectacular view.

There was hardly a sway, not bothersome at all.

 

In the top photo, you  will notice the Budweiser Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals. In the bottom photo, in front of the green, the building with the green dome is the Old Courthouse which I will talk about later.

 

This beautiful Old Cathedral is so close, we just had to stop and take a peek inside. Built in 1834, it is still an active parish.

 

Now on to the Old Courthouse where the Dred Scott case was held. The lawsuit that gained worldwide notoriety. A little later, the Civil War took place.

Walking through this building, you would think you were in a State House.

A view of the dome from inside.

This was built in the early 1800, a site you should not pass up.

This beautiful winding stairway has no middle vertical  support.

It is embedded in the walls.

The banister was so low...for all those short people back in those days. Put in in 1854.

So many frescos and murals adorn the walls of this beautiful building.

This one depicts the meeting of Lewis and Clark on their journey through the area.

This building is a must see when you visit here.

There is a lot of history that took place in this building...Ulysses S. Grant came here to free his only slave. A public reception for President Grover Cleveland took place in 1887.

We walked in the footsteps of so many famous people.

St. Louis, the "Gateway to the West."

We certainly enjoyed our visit and hope you enjoyed the tour a little too.

When walking the streets, I happened to notice this site. What is that figure supposed to be? I asked a local gentleman who did not even have a clue as to what it was, even though he has served on the jury there!!!!

Upon googling it..."it was designed to resemble the Mausoleum of Maussaollos which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The sphinx-like structure has the fleur-de-lis of St. Louis adorned on the chests." The building is the Civil Courts Building. That probably would have been worth a visit as well!!!

Until next time...