According to allpubliclibraries, Saint Louis is an American city, capital of the state of Missouri.
Before European explorers traveled the Rio Grande, the rich land that would become St. Louis was home to residents of Mississippi, a powerful Indian civilization of mound builders. At its peak, more than 20,000 people lived in the fertile river valley. When that culture disappeared, only its huge earthen structures remained, earning St. Louis one of its earliest nicknames, “Mound City,” that is, the city of the “Mound.”
History
Founded by French fur traders in 1764, St. Louis was a French and Spanish colony built in an area of strategic importance near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The city was the center of the fur trade in America.
This boom lasted until 1840, but the movement to the west of the United States through San Luis – the gateway to the west – was to last for many more years; since during decades, the industralists made fortune in San Luis with the sale of products for the pioneers and adventurers, who looked for land, gold and glory.
In 1817 came the first boat of steam to San Luis, heralding a new era of trade and travel along the Mississippi River. Soon it was common to see more than 100 steamships circulating through these waters. However, in 1849 a fire destroyed a third of the city when the White Cloud steamboat exploded on the river bank. Two historic structures – the Ancient Court and the Old Cathedral – both of which are open to the public today – were saved by a quick-thinking but passed away firefighter.
In 1874, the completion of the Eads Bridge across the Mississippi heralded a new day for the railroad, as steamship traffic declined. Still, San Luis continued to flourish as an important industrial center with more than 100 factories beer operating in the city. The largest, Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser). Visitors can enjoy free guided tours of the complex brewing.
Clothing and shoemakers also thrived in the city, creating a garment industry that rivaled New York and Chicago. Today the old fashion district, located along the center of Washington Avenue, is alive with new residential loft developments, cutting-edge restaurants, nightclubs and the quirky attraction of the so-called Museum of the City.
New immigrants changed the face of San Luis during the 19th century: Germans, French, Spanish descendants of Indians and Africans who settled in San Luis and along the River; Irish who fled the famine, Italians who worked in the mines, and others from many nations who heard of the big city on the Mississippi where fortune could be made.
In 1904 the Olympic Games were held and the first International Balloon Race was held in St. Louis in 1908; Less than 20 years later aviation was still at the forefront when Charles Lindbergh captured the world’s imagination by crossing the Atlantic non-stop, from New York to Paris on the “Spirit of St. Louis” thanks to the financial support of local entrepreneurs.
St. Louis’s past can be seen at sites like the Campbell House Museum and the Grove House Tower, which have reopened after extensive historic renovations. The Eugene Field House, Cupples House, the Mansion-DeMenil Chatillon and White Haven are other excellent examples of the St. Louis from other times.
The Gateway Arch opened in 1965 to honor President Thomas Jefferson and his vision for a continental United States. The 630 meter high arch, Museum of expansion to the west and the historic downtown Courthouse, constitute the Jefferson National Service hugging the banks of the Mississippi River.
How to get?
- By plane: The closest airport is Saint Louis-Lambert International Airport. It has connections with the main North American cities, as well as with some Canadians. There are three bus services that run at regular intervals from the Louis Lambert Airport at a bus station near the parking area, as well as connection by commuter rail or light rail – St Louis Metrolink. It is a fast way to travel to the heart of the city.
- By car: The city center is close to the airport, with a number of major highways nearby. Lambert Airport is just off I170 and the route is well signposted. It lasts approximately 25 minutes in good traffic conditions.
- By subway and bus: The city of Louis has an important public transportation network that includes subway and bus service. The city’s metro service consists of two lines that connect the different points. For more information on means of transport in the city and its surroundings, see the page.
Nearby cities
- Richmond Heights
- Brentwood
- Webster Groves
- Olivette
- Normandy
- Breckenridge Hills
- Overland
- Kinloch
