599 Travel Guide

Faust Park is a roughly 600-acre comprehensive community park in Chesterfield, St. Louis County, Missouri, centered on the historic August Faust farmstead as its signature feature. Managed by the St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Department, the park most precious historic asset is the Faust Historic Farmstead built in the 1880s, including a Victorian farmhouse, barn, carriage house, and wine cellar, which opens to the public regularly and hosts nineteenth-century rural life demonstrations. Another highlight is the classic 1920s carousel, its painted wooden horses and gold-leaf trim still spinning after nearly a century, a shared childhood memory for generations of St. Louisans. The park also contains the expansive Sophia M. Sachs Unicorn House, a conservatory displaying rare cacti and succulents from around the world, along with picnic areas, hiking trails, a children playground, and a winter ice rink, making it a versatile family destination for weekend outings.

The Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum, located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, is a solemn place commemorating the dedication of American soldiers and military history. Built in 1938 with funds raised by St. Louis citizens, the classical revival style building carries profound respect for soldiers who gave their lives for their country. The museum displays military artifacts, weapons, uniforms, medals, and historical photographs from the American Revolutionary War to contemporary anti-terrorism operations, vividly telling the touching stories of American soldiers' service and sacrifice. The museum also features World War I and World War II thematic exhibition halls, deeplying St. Louis and Missouri's contributions to major historical conflicts. Regular memorial ceremonies and educational programs are held here, making it an important place to understand American military traditions, honor soldiers' dedication, and conduct patriotic education.

Tower Grove Park in southern St. Louis was donated by 19th-century philanthropist Henry Shaw in 1868, the citys second largest park at 2.89 square kilometers. Shaw also founded the famed Missouri Botanical Garden and designed this park as a Victorian landscape masterpiece with seven radial avenues extending from a central pavilion, lined with more than 400 species of rare trees and shrubs from around the world. The signature elements are the Roman stone gateposts and cast-iron pavilions at the entrance, modeled on European royal gardens. The park features grand fountains, a music pavilion, playgrounds, and a tennis center, and its weekend farmers market is one of the most popular in St. Louis. Listed as a National Historic Landmark, it is the green living room of St. Louis for walking, cycling, picnicking, and community gatherings.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, Illinois, across from St. Louis, is the largest Mississippian-culture settlement in North America, home to perhaps 10,000+ people at its peak (about 1050–1200). About 70 mounds survive, including Monks Mound — roughly 30 m high, the largest prehistoric earthen structure in the Americas; it became a World Heritage Site in 1982.

The Missouri Botanical Garden, founded in 1859 by businessman Henry Shaw south of downtown St. Louis, is one of the oldest continuously operating botanical gardens in the United States and a National Historic Landmark. Highlights include the geodesic Climatron conservatory, a Japanese garden and a Chinese garden inspired by Suzhou; tulips in spring and chrysanthemums in fall draw big crowds.

The Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis is one of the city most historically significant buildings, standing within the Gateway Arch National Park grounds. This Greek Revival building, constructed 1839-1862 and designed by architect Henry Lewis, features a grand Doric colonnade and copper dome that are outstanding examples of 19th century American public architecture. The Old Courthouse holds special place in American history - the Dred Scott case tried here in the 1850s ultimately reached the Supreme Court and became one of the key events leading to the Civil War. The interior preserves beautiful 19th century courtrooms, corridors, and murals, restored and displayed to show original architectural details and historical scenes. The dome offers panoramic views of St. Louis including the nearby Gateway Arch and Mississippi River. The building witnessed St. Louis golden age as Gateway to the West, when pioneers set out westward from here.