Kiener was born and raised here in St. Louis, and throughout his youth gained a reputation as quite the sportsman. He made a name for himself in many sports, including boxing, wrestling, and swimming. He even participated in the 1904 Olympic games as part of the US track team.

Over 170 architects from across the country submitted designs. Out of all the designs, it was Finnish-American Eero Saarinen’s crazy arch design that turned heads. It went against all ideas about what a monument ought to look like. And it wasn’t just about commemorating western expansion but also about marking the modern age. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months. The tour is over 10.5 miles long, with more than 47 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.

The twin pillars and fortress-like design are great examples of French Second Empire architecture. If it seems a little out of place, that was kind of the point! Following the Civil War, cities like St. Louis were reeling from losing the war. Officials wanted to restore pride back to local communities. So in 1873, Alfred Mullett was commissioned to design something to remind folks of St. Louis’s French roots.

When we reach the intersection of Locust and 13th, we’ll see the St. Louis Public Library on our left. You can’t miss this grand stone structure. The library system originally opened in 1865, though not in this building.

Just past the next intersection, you’ll see a grand, multi-layered stone structure on our right with giant columns out front and huge bronze doors. This used to be a Freemason temple, though they sold it in 2017. The Freemasons are a fraternal, closed membership society that has temples and groups all over the world.

We’re about to enter Forest Park. This massive 1,300-acre park dates back to 1876 and is the heart of downtown St. Louis. For comparison, New York City’s Central Park is only 843 acres!

This is one of many attractions built specifically for the World’s Fair in 1904 that happened to be too good to just throw away. Originally, though, it wasn’t a proper zoo. It was just an aviary on loan from Washington D.C. and a few exotic animal exhibits.

That’s King Louis IX of France! Known as the Apotheosis of St. Louis, this statue is actually a replica of the original.

During the World’s Fair, this basin was the center of attention. All the temporary exhibition buildings were situated around this body of water, meaning that everyone who visited got to take in this gorgeous view.

We’ve reached the end of our tour. The visitor center is just ahead, and parking is on the right. I highly recommend parking here, grabbing a map, and spending more time here in Forest Park.