Travels with Twinkles: St. Louis, Missouri

July 15-17, 2021:

I leave Cape Girardeau, Missouri in the morning heading for St Louis straight to the National Museum of Transportation where they have great railroad and automotive rolling stock exhibits. They surprisingly do not have much on the general history of the local railroads, it’s mostly walking around looking at locomotives, passenger and freight cars which have signs on them detailing their origin and vital statistics.

Afterwards I wait out the rush hour St. Louis traffic by going to a library and a grocery store. I then drive another twenty or so miles into the old part of St. Louis near the Budweiser Brewery. I am in the Cherokee-Lemp section of the city which has an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, bars, antique shops and residential areas. I find a convenient over night spot on Lemp street adjacent to the former Lemp brewery which was the largest and most popular brewery in it’s day. It went out of business due to Prohibition. Most of the original buildings remain, but are vacant, although there are signs advertising rental space.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemp_Brewery

Lemp Brewery

DeMenil Place French history

De Menil Place

Cherokee Street goes through here with an antique shop row area and several interesting residential and business buildings. A local historical group has places historical signs on many buildings giving their original owner, date built and business purpose. Also there is a unique Indian statue on a major corner of Cherokee Street. This area was once a thriving business and entertainment area of St. Louis with many prominent buildings, but is now rather depressed and mostly a black and Spanish area.

The Cherokee Monument

Much history here

In the early morning hours it rains steadily which is something I haven’t had much of in the past, while sleeping in the van There is nothing like the extended sound of rain on a tin roof when you are trying to sleep.

I head out in the morning for the Budweiser Tour at 9 AM which was very good, I enjoyed the buildings themselves more than the brewing process, the brewery has beautiful and artistic architecture everywhere inside and out. The tour ended with a free 16oz draft beer in the tour center adjacent to the souvenir store. I looked around in the store but I just didn't find anything Budweiser related that I would want to wear or buy. Not to worry, There were plenty of people buying tee shirts for all the relatives back back home.

https://www.anheuser-busch.com/about/heritage.html

The Stables

Stable entrance

I've seen the Gateway Arch from a distance, but never been there, so it was a must see. This is actually Gateway Arch National Park. The Arch is impressive, at 630 feet high the tallest in the northern hemisphere and looks especially large when standing at the base. I find it somewhat disturbing that most of the original historic area of St. Louis was torn down to build the Arch and surrounding park.

While at the arch, the sky was cloudy and it started to rain, as a result my photos are poor. I was prepared with an umbrella, although I was soaking wet from sweat (so hot and humid) even before the rain started.

Looking up at the Arch towards downtown

For perspective

I still think it’s a ridiculous, excessive waste of money, I would much prefer to see the old St. Louis restored.

The waterfront view

The Riverboat landing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_Arch_National_Park

I then drove to the Soulard district of St. Louis which has many beautiful houses, stores, restaurants and bars. The famous Soulard Farmers Market, established in 1779 and one of the oldest in the US, is also in this area. I ended up returning to this area in the evening for dinner and ended up at the 1860 Saloon where a live band was playing. They were crowd pleasers with an overly party it up front man, playing all genres of cover tunes, but none very well, but the local older crowd in attendance loved them all.

https://explorestlouis.com/things-to-do/neighborhoods/soulard/

A Farmers Market entrance

A nice Soulard area victorian house

In the morning, I explore the Cherokee street area more while the streets are mostly vacant and take many photos of the buildings, signs and murals.

Fortune Teller Bar

The Cinderella Building

https://explorestlouis.com/things-to-do/neighborhoods/cherokee-street/

On finding my way out of the city, I come upon the “Compton Hill Water Tower”, its beautiful Water Lilly pond and the "Naked Truth Monument" which sit below the Compton Hill Reservoir. There was much controversy over the Naked Truth Monument constructed with private funding by prominent German citizens. Why is it that we can’t build such things, or don't care to build things of beauty in these sophisticated, highly technical times ?