St. Louis, Missouri celebrates its history as the Gateway to Westward expansion marked by its renowned Gateway Arch. The town site gained its importance by being at the confluence of the north-south Mississippi River and the westward Missouri River, facilitating the Lewis & Clark expedition and later Riverboat traffic. When the Eads Bridge was built in 1874 trains and later roads like Route 66 started funneling through St. Louis. Being a transportation center made the city wealthy which accounts for the many heritage buildings and museums seen today. |
