Day 11: Over the river and through the woods...

Whew! What a day. We got an early start to St. Louis to beat the heat, wind and crowds at the Gateway Arch, which commemorates St. Louis as the launching point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Oregon, California and Santa Fe Trails and the general expansion of our nation westward. Our ride up the Arch was amazing, so many spans of stairs alternating with spiral stairs to accomodate the shape of the structure. Small cars that seat five form trains creep up the inside of each leg. And the views at the top (630 ft) were beautifully clear in all directions. Beneath the Arch, which sits on an elevated bank of the Mississippi River, is a large complex of theaters, museum and giftshops. We particularly enjoyed the documentary on the building of the Arch in the 1960s, and the giant-screen showing of a 45-minute re-enactment of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (highlights, obviously!).

The national park system operates the entire site as well as "The Old Courthouse," a block away, in which the Dred Scott Civil Rights case was heard in the 1850s. Scott, a slave, sued for his freedom and ultimately won at the state level. The state appealed it to the Supreme Court, which ruled against Scott, stating (paraphrased) that slavery was an innate quality or trait of the black person. The ruling created huge reactions across the country as it basically erradicated the Missouri Compromise and was one of the matches that lit the fire for the Civil War. The courtroom in which the case was tried is open to visitors. Kids, as part of their junior ranger program, are encouraged to say "Hear ye, hear ye" at a certain spot in the room to hear the natural accoustics. Kelsey performed the assignment beautifully and was duly impressed by the way the room carried her voice. And then Kendall stepped forward and said in her best courtroom voice, "Harry Potter," her interpretation of "Hear ye, Hear ye." We cracked up, trying to control ourselves in the place where so much agonizing deliberation took place. :-)

Our final stop for the day was the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, south of downtown St. Louis. It features White Haven, the home in which Grant and his wife began and raised their family in the years leading up to his post as commanding general for the Union and later the Presidency. Following the crowds and chaos of the Arch area, we truly enjoyed the peace and quiet of the wooded acres at the Grant farm. And now we're relaxing in the camper, windows wide open thanks to a cool day, looking forward to a slower pace tomorrow.
Pics in random order.

St. Louis as seen from the top of the Arch. The Old Courthouse is front and center.

On the steps of the Courthouse

At the top!

Picnic beneath the Arch...Stan and girls lower right

In the tram, getting ready to descend.

The Grants' home, White Haven, in its authentic (to the Grant time) green color.