St. Louis has many spectacular natural and man-made wonders. The Mississippi River and the Gateway Arch are two examples of well-known and well-loved treasures in our city. But this list explores marvels you may not know exist. Read below to see if any of these are new to you.
1. Gateway Geyser
Just across the river from downtown St. Louis sits the tallest water fountain in the United States. Erupting three times a day from April to October, the Gateway Geyser is incredible to watch. It was built as an attraction to merge the St. Louis riverfront with the Illinois side of the Great Mississippi. The Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park is an amazing water show. The address is 185 W Trendley Ave., East St Louis, Illinois 62201, and instructions on their website give driving directions that they recommend you use, as GPS directions are not reliable.
2. Apple Chairs
A perfect set, these giant apple chairs belong to The Old Orchard Park of Webster Groves. Designed by the creator of the City Museum, Bob Cassilly, these chairs truly are marvelous. Come to the park and sit in a giant apple! Old Orchard Park, 4 E Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, Missouri 63119.
3. Frank Lloyd Wright House
The home built for Russell and Ruth Kraus was the first home built by Frank Lloyd Wright in the St. Louis area. Now a museum honoring the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright, the home still has furnishings and fabrics chosen by the architect to complement the geometrically complex home. Guided tours are available by reservation only. This amazing home can be found in Ebsworth Park at 120 N Ballas Rd., St. Louis, Missouri 63122.
4. Monk's Mound
Built by the Pre-Columbian cultures of North America, the mounds of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site are open to the public. You can take the 154 steps to the top of Monk's Mound and stand on top of the earth works created by these ancient civilizations. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, 30 Ramey St., Collinsville, Illinois 62234.
5. Field House Museum
With a long history starting in 1829, the Field House Museum is a must for anyone who loves learning about the history of St. Louis. The museum features antique and vintage toys, the history of the Field family, and many exhibits throughout the year. Eugene Field House, 634 S Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63102.
6. The Smallpox Island Memorial
The Smallpox Island Memorial is dedicated to the Confederate soldiers who died, on a now lost-to-the-river island along the Mississippi River. Located within the Lincoln Shields Recreation Area of West Alton City Park, this monument reminds of us of the sacrifices made by these brave Americans. Lincoln Shields Recreation Area, West Alton, Missouri 63386.
7. Civil Courts Building
Created to be breathtaking, this majestic building boasts a history that includes architectural inspiration taken from the Mausoleum of Maussollos, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Completed in 1930, the majestic structure has an interior design that reflects a less brash form of Art Deco design. Civil Courts Building, 10 North Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri.
8. Mastodon State Historic Site
The Mastodon State Historic Site is home to the Kimmswick Bone Bed, a Pleistocene ice age deposit of fossils. Many of those fossils belong to the great mastodons that once roamed Missouri. The park has a huge bone replica of a mastodon on view and is a working park, offering picnicking, hiking, and history. Mastodon State Historic Site, 1050 Charles J. Becker Dr., Imperial, Missouri 63052
9. International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum
Since 1965, the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum has been honoring photographers, the process of photography, and preserving photographs. Featuring exhibits, a Hall of Fame, and a museum, the Hall of Fame and museum give you a chance to see the amazing process of capturing life in images. International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum, 3415 Olive St., St. Louis, Missouri 63103.
10. Bangert Park Tank
Not many parks have a Sherman tank you can play on. Bangert Park does! Formally with the National Guard of Missouri and used in the Korean Conflict, the tank sits as a reminder of our freedom. Bangert Park, 275 S. New Florissant Rd., Florissant, Missouri 63031.
These are just a few of the amazing wonders in St. Louis. Where else can you touch a Sherman Tank, sit in a giant apple, and watch the largest fountain in the U.S.A., all in the same day? Find your favorites by visiting each of them.
Do you know more marvels in St. Louis? Share them with us!
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