The Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France or the Old Cathedral, it's also the oldest building in…read moredowntown St. Louis. Being this is the first Catholic parish west of the Mississippi. In the early years of the city a parcel of land was put aside. Services were conducted in structures that would be temporary. From 1831 to 1834 the Greek style permanent limestone building was constructed. During the revival of the waterfront in the 1930s, this structure survived. It was a church and could not be torn down. It sits in the shadow of the arch today. It became a landmark in 1971. The St Vincent De Paul a French charity organization founded in France in 1833 started its journey to aid individuals that are struggling first here in this church. The charity organization began its roots here in St Louis first in this church and it continues today in 1845. The church is open to the community and is a beautiful place to remember its importance here in America. All normal services are available here. Please visit and support.

I was here for a wedding. The cathedral is beautiful, old world elegance. Large windows letting a…read moretremendous amount of light in. The service was excellent and the priest was kind, gentle and funny with the bride and groom. It was a delightful wedding.

Nice small park with fountains in downtown St. Louis. My mom used to work at General American…read more(later it became MetLife) nearby and took me to the ice rink here when little.

I went here for a Friday night concert over the summer. It was very relaxing and entertaining all…read morein one. I forgot the name of the artist, but her performance along with the live band was so captivating. This place gives date night, solo date, and family trip all at the same time. I love events such as these. Also, I know downtown parking usually isn't the best. However, because of the time and people getting off work to head home, parking was quite easy to find. I was able to park within reasonable walking distance near the Hooters across the street.

Jan 2024: I cannot…read moreeven tell you how frustrating it is to eFile, call the Family court clerk office to get an update, only to be dealing with attitudes. I called today to ask for an update only to welcomed with an attitude. Whoever is in charge need to have periodical training on customer service because they act like you are asking them to do something outside of their job scope. This is unbelievable from people who main purpose is to provide customer support! Appalling. UPDATE as of June 2024: I am extremely dissatisfied with the Judge handling of my case. As a father concerned about my children's safety, I filed a motion to have our parental agreement changed because my ex violated it multiple times. Most alarmingly, she failed to inform me that she was dating someone convicted of molesting his stepdaughter, who is under a protective order until the 2030s. This is the second sex offender she has brought around our minor children. In January 2024, I e-filed an "emergency" motion and received a court hearing date for April. My ex was served through the e-file system. I also submitted over 20 pages of evidence to substantiate my case. In April 2024, I appeared in court with my attorney, but my ex did not appear, despite being properly served. I received an order to appear "in person" for a hearing in June, even though I marked the documents as an emergency. In June 2024, I again appeared in court with my attorney, and once again, my ex did not appear, ignoring the court' for a second time. Had this been a male defendant, the repercussions would likely have been more severe. Instead of addressing the emergency, the Judge set a hearing for case management in August 2024. It is clear that Judge (I can't say her name due to ongoing litigation) did not read the evidence thoroughly, ignored significant safety concerns I had regarding a convicted sex offender around my children, and her demeanor walking in the court room was not hopeful; as if she didn't feel like hearing my case. The handling of this case has been deeply disappointing from the start and hopeless. I'm dropping this case due to the bias and prejudice of this court. I have absolutely no faith in this court or the Judge to make any reasonable judgement. If anything happens to my children, it's on the Judge and my ex-wife. No man should have to present a year long case just to get a judge to take time, review the evidence, and make a temporary decision based on the evidence in their face. Absolutely appalling.

My husband and I went to the Circuit Clerk's office to begin adoption proceedings. 1 of the younger…read morefemale employees that was assisting us was absolutely rude. She responded to our questions as if we were completely incompetent. I do not recall her name, but she could use a lesson in manners. i absolutely HATE St Clair county courthous, especially the Clerks office, nothing but downright rude employee.

You will find this nice sculpture on the Mississippi Riverfront, in St Louis, just behind the…read moreGateway Arch. It is the work of Harry Weber who completed the piece, which is made of bronze and sits 22 feet tall, in 2006 The 3.5 ton sculpture depicts explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their Newfoundland dog, Seaman. It is owned by the city of St Louis and was commissioned by the Greater St. Louis Community Foundation to commemorate the bicentennial of the explorers' return September 1806. According to Weber, it "took seven months of long hours to complete the structure in clay, make molds and reassemble it like a giant jigsaw puzzle. It is a nice sculpture and Weber does a great job encapsulating Lewis and Clark's feeling of accomplishment, sacrifice and pride. It is very detailed and well done. The viewer can really connect to the piece. The sculpture is designated a national Lewis and Clark site by the US Park Service and spending on how high the Mississippi River gets, sometimes the statue is submerged in the river. In 2014, the statue was removed and restored to repair damage it had received from the flood. In 2016, the statue was returned to the riverfront to a location slightly south and about 17 feet higher than before. Before it was moved, during a flood situation, it would look like the duo were sailing into shore Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. I would recommend checking out the Gateway Arch and Park while visiting this sculpture.

We had a great time! My daughter is active duty Air Force so we were able to get a good discount…read more You are able to learn a lot, they do a cute movie on the wall that shows the history of the arch being built. It would be great if the windows were larger so you could see a little bit more, but it's someplace everyone should visit once. If you are claustrophobic, the capsule ride to the top may not be the easiest trip, but it's worth a little three minutes of discomfort. We had a great guide. She was friendly and knowledgeable. It was over 100° when we were here and the inside was cool and comfortable despite the heat

My first time visiting the Gateway Arch, and I'm so glad I finally got to see it up close!…read more I've seen this thing from about 10,000 feet, but seeing it from the ground is a completely different experience. The architecture is seriously impressive, and I loved getting close enough to actually see the welding beads in the stainless steel. It made me stop and think about how in the world they actually put this massive thing together. There's something really cool about seeing the little details on something that looks so impossibly perfect from a distance. Parking on a Saturday afternoon was not exactly easy, so thankfully a friend dropped us off and we were able to walk around, get a closer look, and take some photos without turning the visit into a parking expedition. We didn't go up to the observation area this time. I'm not entirely convinced I'm ready to be packed into a tiny tram going up inside the Arch. But I think I'd like to give it a try someday. I also had no idea there was an underground museum! Apparently I need to do a little more research before my next visit because I definitely want to check that out too. Overall, this is one of those places that really lives up to its iconic status. It was fun finally getting to see it from ground level instead of through an airplane window. If you're visiting St. Louis for the first time, definitely make a stop here. Even if you just walk around the Arch, it's worth seeing up close.

Beware!!! Google maps will take you to the wrong location! I'm on your side Apple Maps, you never…read moredo me wrong! From the Vandalia State House, take 185/40 (N. Kennedy Blvd) north, turn left/west on W. Randolph Street, then right/north on N. Perkin's Street one block to W. St Clair Street. Turn left and it's up on the little hill on your right/north side. I absolutely love state capitals, which would lead me to enjoy past state capitals. I had been in rural Illinois a few times and always wondered what Vandalia had to offer being that it was second Illinois Capitol City (an oldest one still existing, unlike Kaskaskia which is now under water). I followed Vandalia's tourist page to the few landmarks that existed. One was what is called "Little Brick House". It's an n example of simple Italianate architecture that has been preserved by the Vandalia Historical Society. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and is thought to have been constructed in the mid 1800's. According to the website, "Josephine Burtschi, local artist and historian, was born in this house. In 1956 she purchased the house and started restoring it to its original appearance. Over the years, the Little Brick House has been renovated and furnished with period pieces, antiques, and early Vandalia artifacts. Contained within the six rooms are furniture, china, engravings and books acquired from descendants of state officers, legislators and the Ferdinand Ernst Colony who lived in Vandalia when it served as capital. The library, called the Berry-Hall room, pays tribute to James William Berry, the first talented artist of Illinois, and to Judge James Hall who established Vandalia as the first literary center west of Cincinnati. (http://www.vandaliaillinois.com/littlebrickhouse.html)" There's a little history for ya!

There's a awesome plaza I would definitely recommend visiting when you're in St. Louis. Do you have…read morea cousin Nate sites in statues things to do?

Sadly, drained for the winter but the sculptures are still here. It is located across from the…read moreentrance to Union Station and aligned with the famous Gateway Arch. The caption reads, "The meeting of the waters. This fountain by the sculptor Carl Milles symbolizes the union of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The two central figures represent the two great rivers while the lesser water creatures suggest the many tributaries and streams. Milles conceived the sculpture as embodiment of the freedom and primeval force of the waterways of the Great Mississippi Valley and he thought of the grouping as a marriage or festival celebrating the coming together of these great waters. The sculptor, Swedish born and a pupil of Rodin, was conscious that the fountain and plaza are a memorial to Louis P. Aloe (1669-1929), a civic figure and long time president of the board of Alderman whose vision established the Gateway Mall." Stop. Enjoy. Appreciate. [Review 14455 overall, 1781 of 2020, number 88 in Missouri.]

"History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time, it illumines reality, vitalizes…read morememory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquities." Marcus T Cicero Mounds the remains of the past . This site is not as studied as other sites in the United States. We all think "Serpent Mound." Of all the area of the United States, Cahokia Mounds, the past area of the Mississippi people's of the past is the largest. It's the most influential pre Columbian that we have yet to know of in the Americas. Now they believe that early settlers started here in 6th century AD. Early indigenous peoples were burying their dead and they have found personal effects with the ancient burials. The French in the 17th century arrived and found an early settlement of Illinois inhabitants. These are not the first! No written language exists. Just the mounds. It's been preserved for us all to see. It's an hour from Springfield to Colinsville, Illinois. This is one of the top 25 things to see and do in Illinois. You can walk on the actual mounds . Come and see lost history preserved for us all!

Visiting the historical Cahokia Mound. This was a advertise of learning…read more Upon entering a wonderful lady asked was it my first time visiting. Then she proceeded to give a history lesson on the Cahokia Mounds. I learned a lot. The staff were excellent. There was a huge canoe that was hollowed out from a huge tree. There were many artifacts. I went an one of the trails and discovered many things in the process. If you haven't been you must go. It's a great experience.

The oldest brick house in Illinois (completed in 1810 after three years of construction) is…read moreavailable for tours, 3 days a week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday). Be sure to go to the Old Cahokia Courthouse (on 1st and Elm) on any of those days, or visit the website. It is part of the Colonial Cahokia State Historic Sites complex. Visitors from all around, as well as from outside the United States, have toured this restored mansion. You will learn a lot about the architecture at the time, along with how the house was put together - which included a lot of the technologies at the time (1800s). You'll also learn plenty about the man, Nicholas Jarrot, who was a French prince who escaped the French Revolution to come to America and start a new life. He was very wealthy, so he owned plenty of the land surrounding present day-Cahokia. Jarrot and his wife and son slept upstairs, while his slaves were in the cellar. There's lots I can share but the tour guide will provide a lot of information surrounding the family and why they were important to the area. If you are into local history, or even the history of Illinois, I strongly recommend touring the house, along with the Old Cahokia Courthouse and Church of the Holy Family (located two doors down from the mansion).