Any great architect Canada has produced can tell you that the city of St. Louis is an inspiration for architects everywhere, and a city renowned for its beauty and culture. The sight of the Gateway Arch has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of America, and the city is getting the recognition it so richly deserves, being named one of the Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Anyone wanting to take in the architectural sites of St. Louis should start with the Grand Center, which houses the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, which was designed by the Pritzker Prize winning architect Tadao Ando. Other great sites include the St. Louis Union Station, the Robert G. Campbell House, the Wainwright Building and both the Cathedral Basilica and Basilica of St. Louis, two of the most renowned Roman Catholic cathedrals west of the Mississippi. Those in search of antique vanity cabinets should head to the Soulard Market District, which was established way back in 1779.
History buffs have much to look forward to when visiting St. Louis as well. The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial commemorates the city's founding on the riverfront back in 1764. Highlighted by the famous Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion sits nestled beneath it, giving visitors insight into the 19th Century movement of Americans from east to west, long before the invention of bamboo diapers. Sporting buffs as well as pasta lovers will want to visit The Hill, an historic Italian community which baseball legends Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola called home; plaques commemorating their lives and accomplishments can be found on the site of their individual homes. In addition to finding aquarium fish foods, visitors can treat themselves to some of the finest Italian cuisine in all of St. Louis or even Missouri.
Those who regularly attend mens hockey camps will of course recognize St. Louis for its deep roots with the Blues, both the city's professional hockey team and the musical genre the Gateway City is best known for. Hall of Fame guitarist and singer Chuck Berry calls the city home, and stops in frequently to put on a show. It's not hard to find other great modern acts on a nightly basis, as well as some of the best Broadway musical talent in the country.
These are but a few of the reasons St. Louis has been recognized as one of America's premium tourist cities, but there's so much more you must simply see for yourself. | 