It's our last full day in Missouri and I want to finish with a bang. We start with a walk down the street for breakfast at Rooster. This is just melt in my mouth delicious.
Our tour of St. Louis then begins - as we drive around, I try and grab a few pics. Did you know that St. Louis is the geographical center of the United States?
Look at these chandeliers lampposts on the street - pretty amazing. They were part of the West End Rejuvenation.
The World’s Largest Chess Piece measures 20 feet tall and 9 feet, 2 inches in diameter at the base and weighs a whopping 10,860 pounds. The piece is 53 times larger than its model—the “Championship Staunton” king custom-designed by The House of Staunton in 2013 for use in the first Sinquefield Cup—and is made of African sapele mahogany.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis is our next park and explore item. What is the difference between a cathedral and a basilica? A cathedral is the primary church in a diocese, housing the bishop's seat (cathedra) and serving as the center of diocesan authority. In contrast, a basilica is a church honored with special privileges and status by the Pope due to significant historical, spiritual, or architectural importance. A church can be both a cathedral and a basilica, but the two titles refer to different aspects: one is based on its administrative role (cathedral), and the other on its special veneration (basilica).
Ground was broken in 1907, cornerstone laid in 1908, first mass celebrated in 1914, completed in 1988.
Chancery Building - office of the Diocese
The Angel of Harmony statue was located at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri, and was destroyed by a man using a construction boom lift in September 2024. The statue, installed in 1999, symbolized harmony, peace, and racial justice and was a gift from Adelaide Schlafley. The sculptor, Wiktor Szostalo, who lives in Poland, was involved in the restoration process which has just been completed.
Bronze doors on the Basilica
There is a service underway while we visit so we are limited in what we can see.
Did you know that the largest mosaic collection in the world outside Russia can be found here.
Are you interested in how they are done? Well, here's a ton of information for you.
There is a museum in the basement that we are able to visit. This rare 14th-century choir book from Seville, Spain, was donated to the St. Louis Cathedral in 1931. It was customary in the 14th century for choirs of 50 to 60 singers to share only one antiphonal, thus the music is written and illuminated in three-inch characters so that everyone could see. The cover is of leather secured with metal, and the 46 pages are of pure vellum. The lectern is carved wood embossed with gold leaf.
The organ that was install in 1915.
Some older mosaics.
In the old Latin liturgy before Vatican II Mass Cards were placed on the altar to aid the memory of the Celebrant of the mass: 1) in the Lavabo prayers recited at the right of the altar while he blessed the water and washed his hands; 2) in the center of the altar when he said the words of Consecration; and 3) at the left side or Gospel side of the altar, when he recited the Last Gospel (the opening Chapter of the Gospel of St. John). The first Gospel was also read in Latin from the Missal at this side of the altar before it was proclaimed in the English from the pulpit
Back upstairs - more looks at the beautiful mosaics.
Some of the outside artwork -
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne - A native of Grenoble and child of the French Revolution, Philippine was attracted to a life of prayer, but also filled with longing to bring God's love to the New World. With great-hearted courage she became a women of the American frontier in 1818, opening schools and orphanages while struggling with how best to serve every person she met, including Native American and enslaved people. Because of her missionary zeal, the Society of the Sacred Heart has spread to more than 40 counties across the world.
As we move on to our next stop, a few things are noticed along the way. No explanation, just a pic.
Compton Hill Water Tower, a glorious monument to an era when function followed beauty rises above some of the city’s most charming and historic neighborhoods. Compton Hill Water Tower, located in Compton Hill Reservoir Park along Grand Avenue, is preserved as a mid-19th century engineering masterpiece. Built in the late-19th century on the highest point in the city it was designed as part of the city’s public water supply system. One of only a few remaining standpipe towers in the United States (two others are also in St. Louis), it was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1972. It sits in Reservoir Park, flanked by a large, classic statue that celebrates the city’s newspaper heritage, a lily pond and walking paths. The park is always open to the public, while the Tower itself is frequently open for touring. It is owned by the St. Louis Water Division and maintained through the joint efforts of the Division and the Water Tower & Park Preservation Society.
One Metropolitan Square - copper roofed and the tallest building in St. Louis.
Outside U.S. Court and Custom House -
We've managed to get the car parked in a garage and are ready to make the trek to the arch. LOVE this picture as it has the Kiener Plaza fountain, The Runner statue, The Old Courthouse and The Gateway Arch.
Standing in front of the Old Courthouse is a statue of Dred and Harriet Scott. They filed suit for their freedom at this courthouse in 1848. Their case reached the United States Supreme court and was decided in 1857. The court ruled that the Scotts and all African Americans were not citizens of the United States. Opposition to the decision was one of the causes of the Civil War and led to the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution. The Scotts' struggle for freedom stands as a defining moment in the history of the civil rights movement.
We have time before our tickets to the Arch - into the Courthouse we go. The National Park Service preserves the Old Courthouse for its architectural and historical significance. The St. Louis Probate Court operated in this East Wing, handling cases involving property and debts of people who died. If a person died without a will or declared bankruptcy, their property - including enslaved people - would be auctioned on the east steps of the Courthouse. The County Court and Board of County Commissioners also operated from the East Wing, issuing licenses for certain business and occupations, including freedom licenses.
Very unique staircase -
View of the Rotunda ceiling -
Yep, I'm not alone.
A quick elevator ride takes me up another floor and I notice open doors on either side of the building.
This is so cool - look what I found. Circuit Court No. 13 restored to its circa 1910 appearance.
Circuit courtroom much like it was in the 1800's. During the restoration, the vaulted ceiling was discovered.
Love the attention to detail - even papers in the desk.
It's time to head towards the Gateway Arch -
Inside the building is A/C. Right now that is tops in our book. It is crazy hot out there. After that, it also house a museum with a lot of cool information.
A little fun is had by Gwen and I.
Reliefs of the area around the arch
It's time - down we go - or is it up?
After a 4 minute ride - we are at the top, checking out the city below.
It was really fun to experience this with three people who had not been here before. Loved it.
There's even a game going on.
The circle at the bottom is the entrance to the Arch.
Our next adventure - riverboat ride waiting.
We stop and get lunch in the visitor area and then it's one adventure after another - our theme for today. Right on the grounds is the OLD Basilica so we are walking over to see it as well.
Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, The Old Cathedral, established in 1770. The Old Cathedral is one of the most historic buildings in St. Louis with roots dating back to 1764 when St. Louis founders Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau dedicated a parcel of land to the people of St. Louis for religious purposes that was called the "church block". The present building is the fourth church erected on the site. Construction began in 1831 and the church was dedicated in 1834. The first conference of The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in the United States was organized here at this venerable cathedral in 1845.
This was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi. The history of the Parish of Saint Louis – known fondly as the “Old” Cathedral – and the early history of the City of St. Louis are inextricably bound.
The Old Cathedral is unique, both in St. Louis and across America. It couples a museum that contains many artifacts from the early days of the Catholic Church in St. Louis and local historical information of an active parish community. The parish has survived waves of cholera, fire, arson attempts, urban development that began with the westward migration of thousands of Americans, the Civil War and World War I and II.
In its early years, the Old Cathedral was the only church of any denomination for local settlers until about 1816. It is truly the “Mother Church” of St. Louis, the first permanent church in St. Louis, and the 1834 church was the first Cathedral west of the Mississippi River. The Old Cathedral signifies the beginning of Catholicism in the Colonial West, spreading faith-based values to all cultures across a developing America. The Cathedral Block, as designated by Auguste Chouteau in 1764, was among the three largest and most important central blocks in town. The others were the Public Square and Company Block that extended to the edge of the Mississippi River. Residents of St. Louis surrounded these three blocks with their plots of land. The Old Cathedral became the heart of life in the city and was viewed by many as the centerpiece of the city.
WOW! The organ is incredible.
"Madonna and Child with Child John the Baptist" The original oil painting is attributed to Andrea Sabbatini (1487 -1530), a student of Raphael. This particular reproduction was painted by Charles Perry davis (1858 - 1935), born in Iowa, who lived and worked in Saint Louis. The is the first reproduction of a Sabbatini painting done in the United States. He presented this painting to the Old Cathedral over 100 years ago.
Back into the heat again for our trek over to the steamboat. Lots of great pictures in beautiful skies and light. Just sharing one.
We've made it down to the water and we are HOT!
Finding a spot along the river and enjoying a cool breeze and some water just is PERFECT! We're forging through this heat. I would not recommend traveling here a this time of year, but it's not crazy busy - so there is that.
Off we go --- barges on one side of us. Our pilot is a great guide and fills us with so much information - most of which is not instilled in me. Oh well.
The statue along the river in St. Louis is "The Captain's Return," a bronze sculpture by Harry Weber depicting Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and their dog Seaman. The statue commemorates the 2006 bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition's return.
The Eads bridge was the first bridge across the Mississippi at St. Louis. It was a major engineering feat, the largest bridge built at that time and the very first steel bridge. Completed in 1874, it is the oldest bridge standing on the Mississippi River.
In St. Louis, the Hollywood Casino St. Louis is a land-based casino not on the river, featuring a hotel and gaming floor within a complex rather than a riverboat. The former Lumière Place, now Horseshoe St. Louis, also operates as a land-based casino hotel in the city's downtown area. Missouri law was that casinos had to be on riverboats - hmmmn. Rather than operating on the unpredictable river, many casinos, including what is now Hollywood Casino, docked their boats in artificial basins or moats that were connected to the main river channel. Clever --- I guess that today, there is still water coming into the casino. Pretty funny.
The Power House is located at the foot of Ashley Street on the Mississippi River. Constructed in 1902 by engineer/architect Charles Ledlic, it was the first large electrical power plant to be erected by the Union Electric Company. The building became a City Landmark in 1971.
Final approach back --- Nice!!
Now for the walk back to the car and then the drive to the house. We are EXHAUSTED and so ready to rest and prepare for our trip home tomorrow. We don't even go out to dinner. Yes, THAT tired and a few leftovers in the house sustain anyone who needs food.
28th - We are up and going super early - the major effort to repack the car and get it loaded with all of our various treasures is behind us. We've gained a suitcase, but planned for it before leaving home. Final leg. Up, up and away.
This was a super fun trip and I had such a great time, saw lots of new things and spent time with people I love. Can't wait for the next trip. What is that? Oh yeah, a cruise in February.
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