Ideas for places to visit in the Midwest
With snow predicted, I thought it might be a good day to go out to Forest Park and see if there was anything to photograph. The geese and ducks seemed to be settled in due to the bad weather but the big white goose seemed intent on following me as walked along the shore.
This is a nice area in the park as it is between the Grand Basin and Boathouse restaurant. The suspension footbridge always makes a nice backdrop or subject.
https://greatrivers.smugmug.com/Galleries/Missouri-Botanical-Garden/i-GrL5ZPS/A
Henry Shaw inhabited the west wing of this house, which boasts ceilings over 12 feet high downstairs and over 15 feet high upstairs. Authentic deep moldings and ornate woodwork are unique to the original structure. The east side was the servants’ wing in Shaw’s time. The house has undergone many changes over the years. In 1890, the east side was completely rebuilt, and running water and gas service were added. Electricity was added in 1912 and a stucco exterior was applied in 1918.
After 100 years of use as a private home, school, dormitory, and office building, the house underwent meticulous renovation. Furniture and materials once belonging to Shaw were located and returned. It opened to the public in 1953. Tower Grove House was rededicated on October 29, 2005 after another period of extensive restoration. The house has been restored to reflect Shaw’s original country home. Many of the 19th century furnishings belonged to Shaw; others are of the same era.
See more Christmas photos and more form the Missouri Botanical Garden: https://greatrivers.smugmug.com/Galleries/Missouri-Botanical-Garden/i-GrL5ZPS
https://greatrivers.smugmug.com/Galleries/Missouri-Botanical-Garden/i-rP6V9zv/A
The Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis goes all out during the Christmas season with lights, sound and displays. This is a display of lights synchronized to Christmas music with the Climatron in the background. Much of the background music is from the movie “Home Alone” which sets a very memorable Christmas scene.
https://greatrivers.smugmug.com/Galleries/Missouri-Botanical-Garden/i-KRvL75g/A
This is fun building on the grounds of the Missouri Botanical Gardens. This gatehouse was constructed in 1895 in accordance with Henry Shaw’s will, which provided a residence for the groundskeeper of the mausoleum, museum building, and surrounding area. During the the Christmas season it is worth exploring to find some hidden displays.
The Kirkwood station is a busy place with families traveling to meet with friends and family for the holidays.
This photo was something of a surprise. When this was taken, the sun was down and it was dark outside. Three exposures were taken, one under exposed, one over exposed and one at standard exposure. These were combined with this result. For more information on this technique, see my HDR Tutorial.
A rural scene in St. Charles County. This area along the Mississippi River is lined with duck clubs where avid hunters come out in the Fall to try their hand at bagging a few Mallards. Here the hunter is arranging his decoys. Notice his blind is right in hes back yard.
The Christmas Season has arrived at the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City, Missouri. This front parlor has three Christmas Trees and other decorations. The 148 year old building is as much a museum as a residence for the Governor.
The mansion’s first occupant was Benjamin Gratz Brown who was elected in 1872. This and the State Capitol next door bring the visitor beautiful architecture, paintings, murals and other works of art.
The Eads Bridge is a combined road and railway bridge over the Mississippi River connecting the cities of St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois. It is located on the St. Louis riverfront between Laclede’s Landing, to the north, and the grounds of the Gateway Arch, to the south. Near the water’s edge you will see a sculpture of Lewis and Clark, the famous explorers.
It’s interesting combinations of arches make great subject for photographers. You can walk around for interesting perspectives or photograph from the inside out
Ducks over the Mississippi River.
One of the more interesting areas in the St. Louis metropolitan area is The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area. This was purchased by the Missouri Department of Conservation in 1947 from the federal government.
In the early 1940s, the area was used by the Department of Army as a TNT munitions plant to support the World War II effort. There are still 100 of the old TNT storage bunkers that exist on the area.
The Department encourages recreational use of the area by the public, while furnishing fish and wildlife with the resources necessary to be healthy and abundant. They encourage you to walk the hiking trails, drive the auto tour, photograph the wildlife, or simply sit under a tree and enjoy the sights and sounds of the outdoors.
This place is something to see during the winter.
Great Rivers Imaging 