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. Lewis & Clark set off on their epic voyage of discovery from “The Lou” 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.
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.
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 “most overlooked city in America." Perhaps the low-profile is due to the humility of its mid-west residents, who are easily approachable and nice, even when you’re wearing the wrong jersey at Busch Stadium.
Or maybe it’s because of the city’s location, far from the coasts. No matter, the secrets of St. Louis, like they always have, await those who pass through.
The ‘Gateway to the West’ The Arch represents the historical significance of St. Louis as the “Gateway to the West.” Its official name is Gateway Arch National Park , erected in the 1960s to celebr.