The arch is 630 feet tall and they started building it in Feb. 1963 and finished it in Oct. 1965. The arch was built by stacking double walled carbon steel triangular pieces on top of one another with a stainless steel skin and welding them on the inside and outside and then filling the space between the walls with concrete. At the top of the arch there is an observation deck with windows overlooking the city. Our ride up took four minutes and the ride down took three minutes. We are glad we did it but don't want to do it again any time soon. Probably once every 30-35 years is ok since that is about when we did it the last time.
Before going to the arch we thought we would stop for a little something to eat and drink. We found a great little place called the Broadway Oyster Bar with a White Castle right across the street. (This is our kind of surf and turf. Who'd a thunk you could get surf and turf in downtown St Louis at around 1:00 pm.) We had a couple of beverages while we shared one half dozen oysters then went across the street and had a couple of sliders before going to the arch. The bar was a neat place and the waitress was great. Some may think it is a little strange eating oysters in St Louis but they were very good. Probably not much different than us eating steak in Key West. The White Castle hamburgers were White Castle hamburgers which we like so I am not sure what more can I say.
After the arch we went back to the Grove neighborhood where Sweetie Pie's is located to see if there was any kind of music festival or something going on due to all of the large motorhomes and trailers we saw yesterday. We couldn't find anything so we went back to the rv park and hit the pool for an hour or so. We drove through some very nice old neighborhoods that have been revitalized that reminded us of the streets in Brooklyn, NY we walked around. Since we have seen and done the things we wanted to do while here we are taking off in the morning/noon tomorrow. We are going to Joplin, Mo. to see what we can see. Plan on staying there three days. The rv park has a pool that we plan on visiting. We may also check out some cowboy towns in Kansas while we are there since it is only three miles away.
We really enjoyed our time in St Louis. We found it to be a great city with a lot going for it especially in the downtown area. We never felt threatened at any time which is not always the case the way we travel. I hope you like the pictures.
Busch stadium at ground level
The Broadway Oyster Bar where we had the surf part of our lunch.
I think I was meditating here.
I didn't need my sun glasses inside the bar.
How can you get an attitudinal adjustment if you leave it at home?
Taken from inside White Castle where we had the turf part of our lunch. Here we are looking back across the street where we just came from. I am not sure if those are bars on the windows or not. If they are bars I wonder if they are intended to keep people in or keep them out. Not much to look at but it is a neat place with fun people and a lot of character.
Walking to the arch from where we parked the car.
If we would have known it was going to be this close we would have done a few shots at lunch too. I think at this point I was telling Huli to take slow deep breaths and to slow down her breathing and to think good thoughts. I am not sure any of that bullshit works but it was all I could come up with at the time. The lady across from us said it was built to last 900 years or so and the guy said the same thing was said about the Titanic.
Busch stadium from the observation deck in the arch.
Doesn't look bad until you get five average or above average size people in there.
And just think these are relatively small people.
A warehouse converted to loft apartments that was in a revitalized neighborhood west of downtown.
