St. Louis

This past April, my husband was asked to speak at a conference in St. Louis, Missouri. I thought I'd tag along and visit the grand arch.

St. Louis was founded by the French and named after Louis IX of France. Prior to the Seven Year's War, there were many French fur traders settling along the Mississippi river. However, it was taken over by Great Britain after the war. Years later, the United States acquired it through the Louisiana Purchase.

Today, St. Louis is home to several sports teams such as the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, and St. Louis Blues.

 

The St. Louis Arch (Gateway Arch) stands at 630 feet. It is quiet impressive once you are standing underneath it. It truly is a stainless steel masterpiece that will leave you speechless. You can't really appreciate it's grandness from movies or books, you must come see it for yourself. It is the world's tallest arch and considered the gateway to the West.

There is a visitor center located directly underneath the arch. You can catch a ride in a 12 person elevator inside all the way to the top. Once you step off you'll see windows where you'll have views of St. Louis and across the Mississippi river into southern Illinois. And on windy days you can feel the arch sway back and forth.