Gateway to St. Louis Tour

Objective(s):
Gateway to St. Louis Tour Monday, July 27, 2009 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. This itinerary includes views of Laclede's Landing, the Old Cathedral, the Old Courthouse and Busch Stadium, a tram ride at the Gateway Arch, a stop at the New Cathedral in Midtown, a drive through the Central West End and a Forest Park overview. Your Destination St. Louis tour guide traces the history of St. Louis beginning with the city's original settlement, Laclede's Landing. It is now a nine-block historic district filled with renovated turn-of-the-century buildings housing shops, eateries and offices. Visit the famous Gateway Arch, the Nation's tallest monument commemorating the gateway to the west for thousands of 19th century pioneers. Here, take a tram ride to the top for a unique bird's eye view of the city or watch a documentary on how this magnificent steel structure was created. Just east of the Arch, pass the excursion riverboats and the floating casino that calls the Mississippi River home. Enjoy a view of the Old Cathedral, the oldest cathedral west of the Mississippi. Across the street is the Old Courthouse, the setting for cases involving slavery, the fur trade and equal rights. Of these cases, the Dred Scott Freedom Trial is the most notable. You will pass the new Busch Stadium and the International Bowling Hall of Fame, as well as St. Louis Union Station, once the busiest rail terminal in the world. Today, Union Station has undergone a magnificent renovation and is home to a luxury hotel and more than 70 specialty shops and restaurants. At the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, also known as the New Cathedral, you will see one of the largest collections of mosaics in the world-84,000 square feet in 8,000 shades of color! Explore the historic Central West End neighborhood, the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Complex and the mansions bordering Forest Park, fine examples of the "Golden Age" of St. Louis at the turn of the century. Forest Park was the site of the 1904 World's Fair and is one of the largest city parks in the United States. Today, the Park houses the world-famous Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the History Museum at the Jefferson Memorial, the Science Center, and the Muny, among other attractions. ******* Cost: $49.00 per person The Departure Site will be at front of the Millennium Hotel at 4th Street.