{"id":14203,"date":"2024-11-18T16:24:05","date_gmt":"2024-11-18T16:24:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.l3corp.net\/wordpress\/?p=14203"},"modified":"2024-11-18T16:24:05","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T16:24:05","slug":"st-louis-is-still-a-nice-little-secret","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.l3corp.net\/wordpress\/2024\/st-louis-is-still-a-nice-little-secret\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Louis Is Still A Nice Little Secret"},"content":{"rendered":"

Original Article By: Forbes<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Because our country is so big today, people forget the wild history of westward expansion that spurred out of St. Louis in the 19th century.<\/p>\n

Lewis & Clark set off on their epic voyage of discovery from \u201cThe Lou\u201d in 1804, and not long after, its waterfront became a hub of riverboat commerce on the Mississippi River. A few decades later, wagon trains and railroads arrived in St. Louis. Together, these eras shaped the country, connecting the north and south and pushing the American border west.<\/p>\n

But they also shaped the city. A visit to St. Louis today offers the chance to revisit these eras in American history, and to see how its food, art, and music scenes have been shaped by influences from the south, arriving slowly but surely on the riverboats.<\/p>\n

St. Louis is a forgotten place in a way. In fact, it has long been on lists of the most underrated cities in America. Back in 2016, Thrillist called St. Louis the \u201cmost overlooked city in America.”<\/p>\n

Perhaps the low-profile is due to the humility of its mid-west residents, who are easily approachable and nice, even when you\u2019re wearing the wrong jersey at Busch Stadium. Or maybe it\u2019s because of the city\u2019s location, far from the coasts.<\/p>\n

No matter, the secrets of St. Louis, like they always have, await those who pass through.<\/p>\n

The \u2018Gateway to the West\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Arch represents the historical significance of St. Louis as the \u201cGateway to the West.\u201d Its official name is Gateway Arch National Park, erected in the 1960s to celebrate \u201cthe diverse people who shaped the region and the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, many types passed through St. Louis during the 19th century, a mix of characters traveling by river boat, wagon, and railroad. The Arch symbolizes these journeys and the role each played in making St. Louis a booming and interesting place to be, a launching point for voyages west.<\/p>\n

Spend time downstairs in the large museum to learn about what life was like on this American frontier, and I definitely recommend taking the tram to the top for a wonderful view of the city and a look at the inner workings of the Arch.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss out on some time underneath it outside\u2014it truly is a work of art, the light of day always changing its complexion. Walk north into the adjacent park for a different vantage point.<\/p>\n

At dusk, sit in one of the lawns surrounding the Arch and watch the evening lights come on. It may not be the Eiffel Tower in Paris, but it\u2019s pretty dang close. The Arch is the tallest monument in America at 630 feet.<\/p>\n

The Steamboat Era Sparked the City\u2019s Growth<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>By the time the wagon trains and railroads were launching west from St. Louis in the mid-1800s, the steamboat era had already shaped the city in major ways.<\/p>\n

Starting in 1817, St. Louis served as the northernmost hub for riverboats, and the city grew fast. By 1850, it was the second largest port in America, a remarkable fact considering it\u2019s nowhere near the ocean.<\/p>\n

You can catch an informative and scenic river boat cruise from the docks on the river adjacent to the Arch, which will pass on some of the history and provide views of the Arch from the water. Check the timetable and plan to go immediately following your visit to the Arch for efficiency\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n

For a closer and more adventurous look at the Mighty Mississippi, head out on a guided canoe trip.<\/p>\n

St. Louis Has a Creole Influence in its Food and Music<\/strong><\/p>\n

Commercial traffic on the Mississippi River connected St. Louis to the south, most notably New Orleans, which was and still is one of America\u2019s largest ports. Flatboats would cruise the Mississippi River between the two cities, sparking an exchange of goods and ideas that traveled up and down the river.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe definitely have strong French and southern influence from our past river city connections,\u201d said Chris Hansen, Executive Director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation. \u201cOur music and cuisines were heavily influenced by the Delta.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Kranzberg Arts Foundation is an organization that facilitates \u201cartistic venues, studios and work spaces, short and long-term residencies, and community-based programming\u201d throughout the St. Louis arts community. Check out its event calendar when you\u2019re in town, or at the very least, visit some of its greatest hits in the Grand Center Arts District.<\/p>\n

There you will find one of the city\u2019s largest art installations, Walls Off Washington, a string of about 30 murals that make a loop through the alley behind The Big Top, an urban festival grounds, and Sophie\u2019s Artist Lounge, a cocktail bar that specializes in street-art installments and groovy DJ sets.<\/p>\n

Much more art and music can be observed at a variety of other nearby venues. The neighborhood is considered to be the groundswell of where the arts begin in St. Louis and is home to the Fox Theater (check out the Grateful Dead show from 12\/10\/71 on Spotify), the St. Louis Symphony, the Contemporary Art Museum, the Pulitzer Museum, and more than 60 other art organizations. Plus, festivals like the Laz Jazz Fest rolling through the Big Top.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need to change neighborhoods, but don\u2019t miss Broadway Oyster Bar, a locally-beloved venue pairing nightly live music with fresh oysters and New Orleans\u2019 inspired fare. Or, in the Central West End, head to Evangeline\u2019s, a Cajun bistro and music venue.<\/p>\n

To further sample how the south has made an impact on St. Louis cuisine, head to one of the many Cajun-influenced restaurants found throughout the city. Additional music venues to check out are the Old Rock House, Blueberry Hill, and the Stifel Theater, among others.<\/p>\n

Its city park is bigger than Central Park.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>I was pretty surprised to hear that Forest Park in St. Louis was one of the largest city parks in the States. It sprawls 1,300 acres in size\u2014by comparison, Central Park in New York is 843 acres\u2014and offers more than just open space.<\/p>\n

Located inside the park is the St. Louis Art Museum, which is free to enter, as well as the Missouri History Museum. Walk or drive around the park to see its many ecosystems, including forests, nature reserves, lakes, and streams.<\/p>\n

Other Notable Neighborhoods<\/strong><\/p>\n

St. Louis has several historic neighborhoods to explore.<\/p>\n

Be sure to swing through Soulard, a national historic district that has become a modern entertainment district. Houses in the neighborhood are 150+ years old, and tucked in and around them are bars, restaurants, and neighborhood coffee shops.<\/p>\n

The Soulard Farmers\u2019 Market was founded in the 18th century and is worth checking out for both the vendors and the people watching. It\u2019s an especially fun area to check out on a game night, as several bars in this area, such as 1860s, provide free shuttles to Busch Stadium with the purchase of a drink.<\/p>\n

Another night, hit a neighborhood known as The Grove for drinks and dinner. An up-and-coming area, you can find youthful gatherings and live music at the Gramophone (sandwich pub), Platypus (edgy neighborhood bar), and Urban Chestnut (local brewery). Plus, myriad cocktail bars and restaurants, like Grace Meat + Three, which feature\u2014you guessed it\u2014southern cuisine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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