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| St. Louis | ||
| State | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 318.416 (2013) | |
| height | 142 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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St. Louis is the second largest city in Missouri and lies on the west bank of the Mississippi. Your metropolitan region, which extends to the neighboring state Illinois continues, is one of the most important in the Midwest of the USA. St. Louis is rich in culture and Washington, D.C. most facilities with free entry.
background
The area in which St. Louis is located today was a center of the Mississippi culture before European colonization, which can be seen in the numerous earthen walls and mounds that were used by this culture for temples and residential complexes between 900 and 1500 were piled up. The Osage, who speak a language from the Sioux family, and the Illinois, who linguistically belong to the Algonquin group, settled in the area.
The area was first visited by French explorers in 1673 and five years later by the Cavelier de La Salle for the French colony Louisiane claimed. On the site of the pre-Columbian city of Cahokia, 7 km from St. Louis on the other bank of the Mississippi, French colonists founded a village in 1696. St. Louis itself was founded in 1764 after the French defeat in the Seven Years' War. The place initially lived mainly from the fur trade with the Osage. With the Louisiana Purchase St. Louis was also sold from France to the USA in 1803. The Lewis and Clark expedition to explore the newly acquired territory began and ended in St. Louis. After the expedition, William Clark and Meriwether Lewis settled in St. Louis, the administrative seat of the Louisiana Territory and after the establishment of the state Louisiana of the Missouri Territory. From this emerged the state of Missouri in 1821, the following year St. Louis received city rights, but lost its capital city role to the more centrally located Jefferson City.
From 1818 St. Louis was an important port for steamships on the Mississippi and served as a "gateway" to the wide areas west of the river. The population multiplied in the mid-19th century and exceeded the 100,000 mark in the 1850s. The Eads Bridge, completed in 1874, enabled the first fixed crossing of the Missippi in the Midwest, and then the city sprawled across the river. In 1904, St. Louis hosted the World's Fair and - as the first city outside of Europe - the Summer Olympics. In the course of Great migration In the first half of the 20th century, many African Americans moved from the southern states to the large industrial cities in the north, including St. Louis. The population peaked at 856,000 in 1950.
Since then, the population of St. Louis - as in many large cities in the Midwest - has shrunk significantly. However, with a decline of 64%, St. Louis is (still ahead of Detroit) the big city that is hardest hit by this development. White middle-class people in particular moved in droves in the 1960s and 1970s Suburbs, In the actual urban area it was mainly the Afro-Americans who stayed. Their share of the population rose from 18% in 1950 to 49% in 2010. There is clear segregation: in the north of the city over 90% are black, in the south, however, only a quarter. Since the time of the Yugoslav Wars, St. Louis has also been the city with the largest Bosnian population in the United States. In the greater St. Louis area, around 70,000 people belong to it, who also run numerous shops and cultural institutions, especially in the Bevo Mill district, which is also known as "Little Bosnia".
The internationally best known company based in St. Louis is the brewery group Anheuser-Busch. It was founded in 1852 by German immigrants, which is its most famous brand Budweiser (not to be confused with the Czech brewery of the same name in České Budějovice).
getting there
By plane
The main airport in the city (and the only one with commercial flights) is 1 St. Louis Lambert International Airport
(IATA: STL). It is used by over 14.7 million passengers a year and is mainly served by the low-cost airline Southwest Airlines. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are also represented with a number of connections. There are no direct flights from Europe, instead there are connections via Chicago (American, United) or Atlanta (Delta, Frontier, Southwest).
The airport is served by Metrolink, so you don't necessarily have to take a rental car at the airport, but can take public transport to the city center.
By train
Amtrak serves St. Louis on regular trains Chicago (five times a day; travel time 5½ hours), Kansas City (twice a day; 5:40 hours) and once a day from Little rock (7:45 hrs), Dallas (15:45 hrs) and San Antonio (24½ hours). With a change in Kansas City, connections from the southwest of the USA (e.g. Albuquerque, Los Angeles) are also possible, but this can take up to two full days. The trains stop at the 2 Gateway station. At the neighboring Civic Center you can change to the red or blue line of the Metrolink.
By bus
Greyhound long-distance buses also stop at the Gateway Station. They connect St. Louis with several times a day Kansas City (4–4½ hours; from $ 22), Indianapolis (4–4½ hours; from $ 34), Chicago (5: 10–7 hours; from $ 18), Nashville (6½ – 7½ hours; from $ 60), Tulsa (7½ – 8½ hours; from $ 73), Oklahoma City (10-11 hours; from $ 96) and Denver (over 16 hours; from $ 145); once a day with Memphis (5:40 hours; from $ 30).
In the street
By boat
mobility
Public transport
Metrolink, the urban Light rail-System (roughly comparable to German light rail vehicles) with two lines (red and blue), 38 stops and a total of 74 kilometers of routes does not cover the whole city by far, but you can reach many of the touristic points and the airport with it. Many of the areas that Metrolink does not (yet) cover are served by buses. in the MetroLink and MetroBus the same tickets are valid.
In the street
Like most cities in the United States, St. Louis was built for the automobile. But that does not mean that there are no traffic jams, on the contrary.
taxi
Taxis are rarely found outside of the airport area and one should call a taxi company to order a taxi.
Tourist Attractions
- 1 Gateway Arch.
194-foot-high concrete and stainless steel arch on the banks of the Mississippi It is supposed to symbolize the importance of St. Louis as the "gateway to the west" of the USA and is by far the most famous landmark of the city. It was designed in 1947 by the Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, but was not realized until 1963–65. It fulfills several records at the same time: the tallest arch in the world, the tallest man-made monument in the western hemisphere and the tallest accessible building in the state of Missouri. Below the arch is a visitor center and museum dedicated to the gradual expansion of the United States westward in the 19th century. With a special elevator (somewhat similar to a Ferris wheel gondola) you can go up to the viewing platform at the top of the arch, from which you have a very wide view in good weather.Open: Summer: daily 8 am–8pm; Winter: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.Price: Drive to the viewing platform, depending on the date, $ 12-14, children $ 8-11.
Churches
- 2 Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (St. Louis Cathedral Basilica).Catholic cathedral, built in 1907-14 in neo-Romanesque and neo-Byzantine styles. The interior is provided with huge mosaics from the Tiffany company (a total of over 41 million pieces of glass were processed), only in Russian churches are larger mosaics to be found.
- 3 Basilica of St. Louis, King of France (St. Louis Basilica, Old Cathedral), 209 Walnut Street.It was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi in 1770; the current building dates from 1831–34 and is in the classical style. The church is dedicated to the canonized King Louis IX. consecrated by France (after which the city of St. Louis is named) and has the status of a Basilica minor. It was preserved as the only historical building on the central waterfront on the Mississippi, all others had to make way for the Gateway Arch.
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Buildings
- 4 Union Station (St. Louis Union Station).Magnificent station building, built between 1892 and 1894 in neo-Romanesque style, with an 85 meter high clock tower. With 42 tracks, the station was the largest in the world when it opened and the station concourse with its 20 meter high barrel vault made of limestone, stained glass windows and gold leaf decor was certainly one of the most magnificent. As a result of the decline in rail passenger transport in the United States, operations ceased in 1978. The building was then rebuilt until 1985 and now serves as a shopping center with restaurants and a hotel (see below #Shop and #Accommodation).
- 5 Old Courthouse.Historic courthouse, built 1816–64 in the classical style with references to Greek antiquity and Italian Renaissance. In shape and style, and above all because of the 59-meter-high dome, it is somewhat reminiscent of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Here the case of the Afro-American slave Dred Scott was heard from 1846-52, who repeatedly sued (unsuccessfully) for his freedom.
Museums
- 6 City Museum, 750 N 16th Street (Bus 99 "16th Street @ Lucas"; Bus 19, 97 "14th Street @ Washington").The name is a little misleading: it is not a conventional city museum, but rather a huge adventure playground. Discarded vehicles and aircraft as well as industrial systems were collected in a former shoe factory, converted into stairs, slides, seesaws, climbing courses, etc., painted in bright colors or imaginatively decorated. An ancient ferris wheel awaits on the roof with a great view of the city. The whole thing was thought out by the artist Bob Cassilly.Open: Wed Thu 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fri Sat 9 a.m. to midnight, Sun 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mon Tue.Price: Admission (from 3 years) $ 15.36, no discount for children, a visit to the roof costs extra.
- 7 Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Drive (in Forest Park; Bus 90 "Fine Arts @ Art Museum").
Art museum; the collection includes over 30,000 works. Particularly noteworthy is the collection of European Impressionist and Classical Modern paintings (Monet, van Gogh, Picasso, etc.). One focus is on German painting of the 20th century, among others. the world's largest collection of works by Max Beckmann is located here (including the picture Christ and the adulteress), but also artists from the period after 1945 (e.g. Joseph Beuys, Gerhard Richter).Open: Tue-Sun 10 am–5pm, Fri until 9pm, Mon closed.Price: Admission to permanent exhibition $ 14, children (6–12 yrs) $ 6, free on Fridays.
Parks
- 8 Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard (Bus 8, 80 "Tower Grove @ Cleveland").The second largest botanical garden in North America after that of New York and an oasis in the big city. This includes the 5.7 hectare Japanese walk garden Seiwa-en, the greenhouse Climatron in the form of a geodesic dome with a diameter of 42 meters and children's playgrounds including a recreated pioneer village, an Osage Indian village and a lock system modeled on the Panama Canal.Open: daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wed Sat from 7 a.m. (outdoor area only).Price: Admission (13+) $ 12, children up to 12 free.
- 9 Saint Louis Zoo.
Open: daily 9 am–5pm; Summer: Mon-Thu 8 am–5pm; Fri-Sun 8 am–7pm.Price: Free admission, individual attractions (mini-train, carousel, petting zoo, sea lion show, etc.) cost extra, "Adventure Pass" for several of these special attractions cost $ 10.95.
activities
- 1 St. Louis Symphony (Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra), Powell Hall, 718 N Grand Blvd. (Bus 97 "Delmar @ Grand").Classical symphony orchestra, founded in 1880, is the second oldest in the country after the New York Philharmonic.
- 2 Steamboat ride on the Mississippi, 50 S. Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard (at the Gateway Arch). Tel.: 1 (877) 982-1410. One-hour cruise on a historic Mississippi steamer with commentary from the captain or a national park ranger.Open: March – November: daily, exact departure times vary.Price: Full paying $ 20, children (3–15 years) $ 10.
shop
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- 1 Union Station, 1820 Market St..A small shopping mall is now housed in the renovated former train station complex. 45 retailers, service providers and fast food restaurants.
kitchen
Numerous restaurants can be found on Wasington Avenue and its side streets (especially between Broadway and 15th Street) and in Union Station.
Cheap
- 1 Caruso's Deli, 1000 Washington Ave (between 10th and 11th St.). Sandwich bistro with good value for money.
nightlife
accommodation
Upscale
- 1 St. Louis Union Station Hotel, 1820 Market St. (Downtown). This extraordinary hotel is housed in the very impressive station building of St. Louis, which opened in 1894, but today there is no longer any train traffic. There has always been a hotel here, but after the end of rail operations in 1985 it was expanded considerably and has been part of the Hilton chain since 2012. 539 rooms on 7 floors, all with coffee maker and refrigerator. Several in-house restaurants and a Starbuck’s Café. Paid parking. Self-caterers will find a 7-Eleven two blocks northeast at 201 N 17th St (near Pine St). The Mississippi and Gateway Arch are half an hour's walk (mostly along green spaces), and 7 minutes with the Metrolink.Price: from $ 144.
security
St. Louis has one of the highest crime rates in the United States, especially for homicides and violence. Although the number of criminal offenses has steadily declined since a peak in the 1990s, it is still very high. However, one should not conclude from the crime statistics that a visit to the city is generally dangerous.
Most of the violence is concentrated in a roughly triangular area in the north of the city, between Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, Goodfellow Boulevard, West Florissant Avenue, and Vandeventer Avenue. This should be avoided at all times of the day and night; there is hardly anything of interest there for tourists anyway.
Downtown, Central West End and Forest Park, where most of the sights and cultural institutions are located, are relatively safe. Roughly, one can say that the districts north of Delmar Boulevard are more unsafe, the south of it safer. In general, of course, the advice is that you should stay away from neglected and shabby-looking parts of the city.
health
Practical advice
trips
- 10 Cahokia Mounds, Collinsville, Illinois (9 miles east of St. Louis on Interstate 55/70).
Remnants of the main center of Mississippi culture and the largest pre-Columbian city north of Mexico. The city existed from around 700 AD and experienced a great population boom in the 11th century. At its peak around 1200 it had an estimated 6,000 to 40,000 inhabitants (depending on whether you include the densely populated, agricultural area). The decline began in the 13th century, presumably due to excessive ecological demands. Around 1400 the city was completely abandoned. Particularly noteworthy are the Monks Mound, a 30 meter high earth pyramid with an area of 5.6 hectares. It probably served as the religious and political center of the city with a temple on the upper platform; the reconstructed stake circle of Cahokia Woodhenge; as well as the earth wall no. 72, which served as a burial place. The archaeological sites are surrounded by a 390 hectare park and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 11 Butterfly House, 15193 Olive Blvd, Chesterfield (30 km west of St. Louis on State Route 340).The butterfly house with 2000 butterflies belonging to 80 different species is a branch of the Missouri Botanical Garden.
- 12 Fort Kaskakia, Ellis Grove, Illionois (90 km southeast of St. Louis on Illinois State Route 3).Remains of a redoubt and a pioneer town from the 18th century.
- 13 Deutschheim, Hermann, Missouri (125 miles west of St. Louis on I-44 and State Route 100; or a good 1½ hours by train).Historic houses, a barn and a winery of German settlers from the 19th century.
- 14 Mark Twain National Forest, near Potosi, Missouri (about 125 km southwest of St. Louis on State Route 8).Over 6000 km² of forest and nature reserve. There are seven areas (a total of 320 km²), which are total reserves (wilderness areas) are left to their own devices. You can go hiking, camping and white water kayaking here.
- on the historical Route 66 in a northeasterly direction to Springfield (Illinois) (155 km), Bloomington (260 km) and Chicago (480 km); or in a south-westerly direction to Rolla (170 km), Springfield, Missouri (345 km) and Joplin (455 km).
- The runs parallel to Route 66 four times a day Lincoln Service the railway company Amtrak: Alton can be reached in 45 minutes, Springfield (Illinois) in two hours, Bloomington / Normal in three hours, Joliet in 4½ hours, Chicago in 5½ hours.
- The Missouri River Runner drives across the state of Missouri twice a day: it takes you to Kirkwood in half an hour, to Hermann in 1½ hours and to 2:20 hours Jefferson City, in 3½ hours to Sedalia, in 5:40 hours to Kansas City.
literature
Web links
- http://stlouis.missouri.org/ (en) - Official St. Louis website
