1. Eads Bridge

    1. Eads Bridge

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    Saint Louis, MO

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    Daniel P.

    Standing nearly 90 feet above the Mississippi river the 6444-foot Eads Bridge is a stunning excersize in metals and stone. The bridge was Marked for National Historicity in 1964 and Civil Engineering Historicity Nationally in 1971. A self-taught engineer, James Buchanan Eads' had never done a bridge before and experts said his $10 million steel-truss arch bridge was doomed to failure. But with the exception of financial insolvency it didn't quite and hasn't (yet.) Building innovations include structural steel alloy constructions, sand pumps, and deep water pneumatic caissons - which resulted in workers suffering and dying from the bends :-( After operating for more than a century the bridge stopped carrying rail and road traffic due in part to age and neglect; this was reversed by throwing buckets of money at the problem for several years and since 2003 the bridge once again carries pedestrian and vehicle traffic on the upper deck while commuter rail runs along underneath.

    the Eads Bridge with the now torn down parking garage in front of the bridge
    Anthony M.

    Every time I look at this bridge I see a great structure built a little too late. Thus, one of the reasons for the start of St Louis losing its title as an alpha city and the capital of economics in the Midwest.

    Mark P.

    The historic Eads Bridge crosses the Mississippi River from Downtown St. Louis to East St. Louis in Illinois. It was completed in 1874 and was designed and built by James Eads. It was the first bridge to cross the Mississippi River if you exclude those little ones up north that cross the Mississippi creak. For me, the Eads Bridge kind of symbolizes the decline of St. Louis' population over the last 100+ years, as the bridge was "too little, too late". The story goes that St. Louis was in a big race against Chicago as a fast growing city. Chicago started leaving St. Louis in the dust because most of the trains that crossed the United States ran through Chicago since they couldn't cross the Mississippi river this far south. The Eads Bridge was built to try and regain some of the commerce traffic, but alas, it was too late. Now days, it's a mixed use bridge for vehicles and the metro trains which run below the upper deck. The Eads Bridge was recently renovated allowing pedestrians to walk or bike across the south side of the bridge where one can take in the amazing views of the Arch and Downtown St. Louis. I especially enjoy riding my bike across the bridge when on my way to explore the "East Side"; however the high crime on the Illinois side deters many from using the bridge. You shouldn't let that stop you from at least walking to the middle of the bridge to take in the views. Back in 2004, someone came up with a cool idea to transform the Eads Bridge into the "Eats Bridge". The city closed the top deck of the bridge down for vehicles and opened it up to pedestrians only on the weekends. It could have been a great idea, but they screwed it up by only allowing a few select restaurants to serve food through a ridiculous ticket system. I'd like to see them attempt this again, maybe having a Food Truck Friday on the bridge or opening it up to street food vendors. The Eads Bridge gets 5 stars for history and architecture, but -1 for not being better utilized for special events and to show off the views.

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    Review Highlights - Eads Bridge

    Completed in 1874, the Eads Bridge is the oldest surviving bridge across the Mississippi River.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Gateway Arch - Got the top to ourselves

    Gateway Arch

    4.2(976 reviews)
    0.4 miDowntown

    I had forgotten how interesting the free museum was and since I have been there it's been remodeled…read moreand it's great!! The arch is cool and the history of the arch and Saint Louis is very well done in the museum.

    My wife and I spent a great hour exploring the underground Museum at the Gateway Arch. The exhibits…read morewere very informative, covering the rich history of the area and the impressive construction of the Arch. We loved the well-done displays and artifacts. Unfortunately the tram rides to the top were sold out, but we'll catch them next time. Highly recommend for a quick, educational stop! -- update -- My wife and I were in St. Louis and decided we had to do the Gateway Arch at least once. We tried getting tickets the day before and it was completely sold out, but we got lucky and snagged spots for the next morning. Totally worth the wait! The view from the top is absolutely stunning. You can see for miles across the Mississippi River and the city skyline -- it's one of those "wow" moments that makes the whole trip worthwhile. The architecture and engineering behind it are impressive too. That said, be ready for a cozy ride. The tram pods only fit about 5 people and it's very tight in there. You'll get to know your neighbors pretty well for those few minutes! If you're even a little claustrophobic or afraid of heights, this might not be for you. But if you're okay with both, it's a must-do experience. Highly recommend doing it at least once. We loved it and left with some great photos and memories. Just book your tickets in advance!

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    Ludacris

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    Frank Lloyd Wright House In Ebsworth Park

    Frank Lloyd Wright House In Ebsworth Park

    4.9(23 reviews)
    14.3 mi

    We joined a group of people to do a group tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright house in Kirkwood, MO. It…read moreis well worth the $20 tour fee. Anne was our docent. She was very knowledgeable about Wright and Russell and Ruth Kraus who the house was built for and the only residents. The Kraus house is one of the very few Wright houses that have not been remodeled and contains the original furniture designed by Wright. It has a cozy feel from the time you walk inside. I was intrigued by the esthetic design throughout the home.

    I've been to about 150 Frank Lloyd Wright homes and have been lucky enough to have been inside…read morearound 30. We didn't know if we could get on the tour that day so we first stopped by to see it and take some pictures. We met an intern and found out that we could get in on a tour about 2 hours later. So we paid our fee and went to see Frank Lloyd Wright's mentor, Louis Sullivan's Wainwright Building in downtown St. Louis. I believe this is one of Sullivan's best work still standing. When we returned for the tour I was stunned. This is a great, late house by Wright that has many magical and playful elements to it. It's has most of the original furnishings and something totaling unexpected in a Usonian house--art glass windows. The tour guide was new and did an excellent. Everyone involved in this project should be very proud of the work they've done, and continue to do.

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    Frank Lloyd Wright House In Ebsworth Park
    Frank Lloyd Wright House In Ebsworth Park
    Frank Lloyd Wright House In Ebsworth Park

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    Eads Bridge - landmarks - Updated July 2026

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