Day 13 - In St. Louis - UPDATED 6/17

Got out early this morning and walked down to the Gateway Arch.  If one is not sure of how to get to the Arch, just follow the signs on the road.

The walk takes you through a beautiful park, along the Mississippi Riverfront, over to the Arch.  This is the first time Ginny had seen the Mississippi. I had seen it a number of years ago in New Orleans.

We opted to take the Tram ride to the top of the Arch.  You ride up in a tiny pod structure that seats 5 (children - yes, adults - a little too tight). The ride takes 4 minutes up. It's 3 minutes going down. 

Here's a view from the inside of the pod, the view looking back into the city (Bush Stadium is on the left), out toward the river and finally a photo of Ginny and me inside the top of the Arch where the floor is the same curve as the Arch. Makes walking around a little tricky. All in all, it was worth the trip to the top.

We found the Old Basilica (The Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France) built in 1834 just a couple of minute walk from the Arch and decided to attend Mass there. It is a beautiful building. It had been restored in 2015.

We spent some time walking around the area of St. Louis near the river.  In addition to murals, there are some different works of art. 

The Old Courthouse is there.  In 1846 the Dred Scott trial took place in this courthouse. All trials, including the Missouri Supreme Court trial were held here.  It is a national monument. The National Park Service maintains four history galleries on St. Louis in the building.  It's worth a visit.

Courthouse as viewed from the west side looking toward the river

Here is the plaque a gate about the Dred Scott trial near the entrance to the court house

In the afternoon we took a Trolley tour of the city, including Forest Park. A couple of "fun facts" that we learned on the tour 

- The ice cream cone was invented in St. Louis
- Iced Tea was first served in St. Louis
- The hot dog debuted in St. Louis

Went by the Fox Theater, a well known performing arts venue.

Passed the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, built in 1914 as a replacement for the Old Basilica.

More views of St. Louis from the Trolley.

Then took a ride through Forest Park, where almost everything is free, including a group of tickets at the performing arts venue set aside as free for each performance. There is the art museum with a statue of Crusader King Louis IX across from the entrance.

Across from the statue is an open landscape with a pond.  Ginny and I posed there just to prove we were there.

In the evening, we took a River Boat cruise on the Mississippi. This is what the St. Louis river shore looked like in the early 1900s.Riverboats lined the shore.

View from the top deck of the ship, The Tom Sawyer.

Tug pushing 12 barges

Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge

Mid point is the state boarder between Missouri and Illinois

EADS Bridge

Enjoying the Ride

Although there was no rain on the river, we were treated to a rainbow on the east side of the Mississippi.  

In the evening, we went to The Broadway Oyster Bar for dinner. The restaurant didn't look like much from outside, but inside, it was jumping; the oysters and the food were good. View of the front and side.

The inside (which is really mostly outside ) continues the sophisticated ambiance

We both enjoyed the experience

If you don't like the atmosphere, luckily directly across the street is the solution to your problem.