Article
St Charles MO Real Estate
St. Louis Area Guide
The beautiful and bustling city of Saint Louis, Missouri is the state’s pride and joy. The largest urban area in Missouri and the 16th-largest in the United States, Saint Louis has much to offer its citizens and visitors. Known as “North America’s Best Sports City,” due to its four professional athletic programs, Saint Louis has an innumerable amount of attractions and claims-to-fame, such as being the main home of American Brewery, the largest center of Roman Catholicism in the U.S. and the birth place of some of our country’s most recognizable public and private corporations. Come see what makes Saint Louis so special!
Discover more at the city’s official website: http://www.explorestlouis.com/
History
Since 1673, when the French explorers Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette came upon St. Louis’ land, people have been drawn to this uniquely beautiful city. Five years later, La Salle claimed the area in the Mississippi River Valley for France and he named it Louisiana for King Louis XIV. After a few settlements were  established, Catholic Priests formed a small mission in 1703 on the land that is now Saint Louis. Sixty years later, Pierre Laclède de Liguest discovered St. Louis’ trading potential when they traveled up the Mississippi from New Orleans.
The settlements around Saint Louis grew rapidly in 1763 after word got out about the Treaty of Paris in which France had awarded all of the land east of the Mississippi to Britain, so in 1765 St. Louis was named the capital of northern Louisiana. In 1803, the United States’ president, Thomas Jefferson, acquired Saint Louis in the Louisiana Purchase when it became a part of the United States of America. The Lewis and Clark Expedition left St. Louis in 1804 and returned from the Pacific Ocean two years later, when they decided to live permanently in St. Louis.
The steamboat era began in 1817, which enabled a significant increase in river trade productivity, since steam power was much more effective and dependable than earlier forms of trade. In the 1840s, St. Louis saw much immigration from Germany, Bohemia and Ireland; due to the potato famine. As a result of this population boom, Omnibuses began serving as a main source of transportation in the city and St. Louis laid its first streetcar tracks in 1859. On August 22, 1876, St. Louis decided to become an independent city due to its economic success and growth. The second World’s Fair was hosted in St. Louis in 1904 in conjunction with the Olympic Games, making America the first English-Speaking county country to host the Olympics.
In the 1960s, The Gateway Arch was constructed in downtown Saint Louis in recognition of America’s westward expansion. In more recent history, Saint Louis has become one of America’s most notable cities; a center for entertainment, culture, athletics and education.
Learn this and more at the city’s official website: http://www.explorestlouis.com/
Attractions & Activities
Gateway Arch-Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
The Gateway Arch attracts more than four million visitors every year, and at 630 feet, is America’s tallest man-made piece of architecture. Built to commemorate our nation’s growth westward in the 1960s, the Arch has many exciting attractions such as a tram ride to the top, a documentary film viewing, the Museum of Westward Expansion and shopping!
For more information visit the official website: www.gatewayarch.com 
Forest Park
Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in America, even larger than New York City’s Central Park. With its 1,371 acres, Forest Park is the home of an art museum, science center, zoo, greenhouse, history museum and theater.
The park also offers outdoor amenities including a 7.5 mile trail for jogging, biking and skating in addition to a skating rink and a number of lakes to relax by.
For more information on this park and a list of others visit this official website: www.stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark
Anheuser-Busch Consumer Hospitality Center
The home of America’s first brewery, the Anheuser-Busch Center is an exciting place to go learn about this prestigious company’s history. Visitors can take tours of the historic Brew House, Clydesdale stable, Beechwood Lagering Cellar and packaging plant.
To learn more, visit the website: www.budweisertours.com
To view all 25 of St. Louis’ most interesting tourist spots, visit the city’s official website here: http://www.explorestlouis.com/visitors/25thingsOne.asp?pt=1
Parks & Recreation
The Saint Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation is dedicated to providing citizens and visitors with a number of park and recreation opportunities to take part in alone of with their families and friends.
Saint Louis’ sense of community originiates from people’s connection to the area and the Parks and Rec department is committed to preserving this sense of pride.
Come fall in love with everything Saint Louis has to offer.
To learn more and view a full list of area parks, visit the city’s official website: http://www.stlouisco.com/parks/
Events
10th Annual Stella Artois St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase
This annual event, held at the landmark’s Tivoli Theater, allows Saint Louis area filmmakers to screen their works and gives citizens and visitors the opportunity to get together to celebrate the arts in a fun and exciting way.
Get more information at the event’s website: www.cinemastlouis.org
 47th Annual Moonlight Ramble
The city of Saint Louis proudly hosts the world’s largest nighttime bicycle race, which begins at the Soldiers’ Memorial downtown at midnight and goes on for either 9 or 18 miles. The fun doesn’t end when the ride is over because an after-party takes place at the Soldiers’ Memorial Plaza afterwards.
Learn more at the event’s official website: www.moonlightramble.com
Fair Saint Louis Festival
The Fair Saint Louis Festival takes place every year in July and features a number of entertainment opportunities including air shows, parades, fireworks, and many concerts. With the musical styling of John Legend, Jordan Pruitt and the B52s, this festival is a can’t-miss opportunity for family fun.
For more information, visit the official website: http://celebratestlouis.org/Celebrate/index.cfm
| 
