Ideas for places to visit in the Midwest
Elephant Rocks State Park can be found outside of Ironton, MO in the Ozarks. This outcropping of pink granite was once part of a quarry and is now a park where you can wander around the park and see the ancient worn boulders. The outcropping raises above the treetops providing a spectacular view.
Eads Bridge, built in 1861, provides transportation across the Mississippi River by car, foot or rail. The bridge itself made St. Louis the true gateway to the west but the engineering techniques developed in the building of the bridge led to engineering marvels that created the Hoover Dam, Panama Canal and development of our western states. This amazing structure is in the middle of it’s second century of operation.
The St. Louis riverfront featuring the Gateway Arch and the Eads Bridge. The City of St. Louis is connected to Illinois by an array of bridges. South of the city is the Popular Street Bridge, then, moving north, the Eads Bridge, MLK Bridge, Musial Bridge, MicKinley Bridge and, further north, the Chain of Rocks Bridge. Currently the MLK Bridge is closed so you can walk on it to get this spectacular view of the city and see the historic Eads Bride in front of the arch.
This was taken with a tripod: ISO 125, f9, 30sec. I also put a dark filter on the lens to extend the exposure and smooth out the water.
I would suggest that you never go on this bridge by yourself!
This is one of my favorite photos from Historic St. Charles, Missouri. The main street of St. Charles is lined with the original 18th Century homes and storefronts, all well maintained. This is a little hidden area behind the shops and contains this welcoming patio and the entrance to a large antique shop.
In Historic St. Charles you will an endless stream of historic buildings from the 18th Century. Here you will find interesting shops, restaurants and B&Bs.
Ste. Genevieve was one of the first settlements in the state of Missouri. Many of the original buildings are still there including this home, built circa 1820. The two rooms along the north side of the house constitute the original vertical log structure, while the second floor and the rooms south of the hallway were added over various dates.
The architecture in this town is something to see.
Downtown St. Charles, Missouri, is a historic area that has restored many of their original shops and homes. Founded circa 1769 as Les Petites Côtes, or “The Little Hills” in French, by Louis Blanchette, a French-Canadian fur trader, when the area was nominally ruled by Spain following the Seven Years’ War, St. Charles is the third-oldest city in Missouri. For a time, it played a significant role in the United States’ westward expansion as a river port and starting point of the Boone’s Lick Road to the Boonslick.
St. Charles was settled primarily by French-speaking colonists from Canada in its early days and was considered the last “civilized” stop by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804, which was exploring the western territory after the United States made the Louisiana Purchase. The city served as the first Missouri capital from 1821 to 1826, and is the site of the Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne shrine.
The trail through Dogwood Canyon, in Southwestern Missouri, is about bout three or four miles. Along the way you are treated to one waterfall after another. This part of a scenic area with large pools of water and several waterfalls. There is a path behind this waterfall so you can get right up with it.
This particular area is about a two mile walk from the entrance to the park. It takes sme effort to see everything or you can take a tram.
Near the entrance to the Dogwood Canyon trails is Indian Cliff Falls. This stunning scene is right behind the grist mill that marks the entrance to the canyon. For those that are not familiar with this area, it is deep in Southwestern Missouri not too far from Branson.
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park covers 10,000 acres of pristine Ozark Mountain Landscape and is a one-of-a-kind experience for nature lovers and adventure seekers of all ages. The park offers miles of crystal-clear trout streams, cascading waterfalls, ancient burial caves, hand-built bridges and bottomless pools. Enjoy hiking, biking, trout fishing, horseback riding, segway tours and more during your visit to Dogwood Canyon.
On either side of Delmar Blvd., just west of the commercial district called the Loop, stand the gatekeepers to University City. Perched on their 40-foot limestone pylons, two massive feline figures keep watch high above the heads of pedestrians and motorists. Presently engulfed by mature trees that partly obscure the viewer’s line of vision, these lions were two of the only structures visible for miles at the time University City was first being subdivided from acres of pasture land.
Great Rivers Imaging 