St. Louis is a city with a deep and captivating history. From its part in the westward expansion of the United States to its French and German roots, the city has many stories to tell. One of the most iconic symbols of St.
Louis is the Gateway Arch, which celebrates the city's role as a gateway to the west. The 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis was also a place of firsts, including the invention of the ice cream cone. The city is also renowned for its historic museums, world-famous cathedrals, vibrant music scene, and delicious food and drink.
But perhaps one of the most interesting stories of St. Louis is its namesake, King Louis IX of France, who reigned from 1226 to 1270. The Gateway Arch is one of the most recognizable landmarks in St. Louis and commemorates the city's part in the westward expansion of the United States. The Arch was constructed in 1965 and stands at 630 feet tall, making it the tallest man-made monument in the United States.
Visitors can take a tram ride to the top of the arch for a breathtaking view of St. Louis and beyond. The 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis was a place of firsts, including the first appearances of many technological devices. But one of the most beloved inventions that was introduced at the fair was the ice cream cone.
Although a New Yorker had invented the cone in 1896, it was created independently at the San Luis Fair, where it became popular. To make it easier for customers to carry their creamy dessert, an ice cream vendor bought waffles at a pastry shop next door, wrapped them in a cone shape and voila!The story of Dred Scott is one that inspires much less pride than that of the Gateway Arch. Scott was a slave taken by his owner from Missouri, a slave state, to live in Illinois and then Wisconsin, where slavery was illegal. Scott and his wife filed an unsuccessful lawsuit for their freedom in Missouri at the Old Courthouse in St.
Louis in 1846. Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., one of the world's largest brewing companies, was founded in St. Louis in 1860 by German immigrants Eberhard Anheuser and Adolphus Busch. Visitors can visit the original brewery in St. Louis' historic Soulard neighborhood and see its world-famous Clydesdale draft horses in their brick and stained glass stable from 1885. Educator Susan Blow was born in Carondelet (now part of St.
Louis) and was very interested in German educational ideas, particularly those of Friedrich Froebel who had established revolutionary methods for teaching young children. After studying with a Froebel disciple in New York for a year, Blow opened the first public kindergarten in the United States at Des Peres School in St. Louis. The current boundaries of St. Louis were established in 1876 when voters approved its separation from San Luis County and its establishment as an autonomous statute.
The city is named after King Louis IX of France who ruled from 1226 to 1270 and was also known as Saint Louis or Louis the Saint. St. Louis has been home to many important events throughout history that have shaped our nation today. From its role as a gateway to the west to its invention of the ice cream cone, St. Louis has left an indelible mark on our culture and history that will never be forgotten.
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