Mississippi River Sunrise

One of the best places to observe spectacular sunrises is at the White House Retreat in South St. Louis County. This is on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River valley and early morning risers are rarely disappointed.

Reflections in a storm

The word “reflections” in the heading of this photo is not of the photography sense such as reflections in the water. This is a retreat house where you spend two to three days in silent reflection. The White House Retreat in South St. Louis County is a spectacular place perched on a bluff overlooking theContinue reading “Reflections in a storm”

St. Louis Riverfront

Opened in 1874, Eads Bridge was the first bridge erected across the Mississippi south of the Missouri River. Earlier bridges were located north of the Missouri, where the Mississippi is smaller. None of the earlier bridges survive; Eads Bridge is the oldest bridge on the river. Also, the Eads Bridge is no longer a primaryContinue reading “St. Louis Riverfront”

Sunset at the Arch

St. Louis’ Gateway Arch makes a great subject for photography with endless possibilities. This photo was taken from a viewing platform in East St. Louis, Illinois. The platform gives various heights for a good angle. However, there are power lines and other structures in the way so it is not possible to get a “clean”Continue reading “Sunset at the Arch”

Sunset on the Past

The Chain of Rocks Bridge allowed the famous Route 66 to cross the Mississippi River near St. Louis. Now it is closed to automobile traffic and is a bike/walking path. The castle like structure is a water intake for the City of St. Louis water supply. These structures are on the northern edge of theContinue reading “Sunset on the Past”

Eads Bridge

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 youContinue reading “Eads Bridge”

Riverfront

St. Louis’ riverfront on the Mississippi River. This photo was taken from the historic Eads Bridge,  a combined road and railway bridge over the Mississippi River connecting the cities of St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois. Also in this photo the Gateway Arch.  

High Horse

This gift shop was built in 1856 according to the sign. However, I suspect it did not start out as a tourist trap. This is a building in  Elsa, Illinois, an old village along the Mississippi River between Alton and Grafton. This 18th century enclave is fun to explore with lost of classic old buildings.

Elsah Church

Tucked away in the bluffs along the Mississippi River is the little village of Elsah, IL. The entire village of Elsah is on the National Registry of Historic Places. This village, with a population of around one hundred people, is often referred to as the “village where time stood still.” Visitors to Elsah can escapeContinue reading “Elsah Church”

Clark Bridge

View of the top of the Clark Bridge spanning the Mississippi River at Alton. The Clark Bridge was named after William Clark who, with Meriwether Lewis in 1804, commanded the two year 4,000 mile exploration of the Louisiana Purchase territory up the Missouri River into the Pacific Northwest. The Lewis and Clark Expedition set off just aContinue reading “Clark Bridge”