What You Will Do
Explore the Gateway to the West with this self-guided driving and walking tour of St. Louis! First, you’ll stroll through Gateway Arch National Park, take in amazing views of the arch and the Mississippi River, and learn all about the rich history of this monument and the lush park surrounding it. Then you’ll take a drive through downtown St. Louis to Forest Park, a sprawling green space featuring museums, a zoo, and more land than New York’s Central Park!
Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, entering your unique password, and accessing your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Itinerary
Meeting Point
Begin from 698 Chestnut St, St. Louis, MO 63101, USA. After booking the tour, search your emails and texts for "audio tour". Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
1
Gateway Arch National Park
10 minutes
Over 170 architects from across the country submitted designs. Out of all the designs, it was Finnish-American Eero Saarinen’s crazy arch design that turned heads. It went against all ideas about what a monument ought to look like. And it wasn’t just about commemorating western expansion but also about marking the modern age.
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
2
Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France
15 minutes
While much of the area was bought up during the making of Gateway Arch National Park, there was one exception: The Old Cathedral. The Old Cathedral had always been a staple of the St. Louis community.
3
Kiener Plaza Park
10 minutes
Kiener was born and raised here in St. Louis, and throughout his youth gained a reputation as quite the sportsman. He made a name for himself in many sports, including boxing, wrestling, and swimming. He even participated in the 1904 Olympic games as part of the US track team.
4
The Old Post Office and Custom House
The twin pillars and fortress-like design are great examples of French Second Empire architecture. If it seems a little out of place, that was kind of the point! Following the Civil War, cities like St. Louis were reeling from losing the war. Officials wanted to restore pride back to local communities. So in 1873, Alfred Mullett was commissioned to design something to remind folks of St. Louis’s French roots.
5
St. Louis Public Library - Central Library
15 minutes
When we reach the intersection of Locust and 13th, we’ll see the St. Louis Public Library on our left. You can’t miss this grand stone structure. The library system originally opened in 1865, though not in this building.
6
New Masonic Temple
10 minutes
Just past the next intersection, you’ll see a grand, multi-layered stone structure on our right with giant columns out front and huge bronze doors. This used to be a Freemason temple, though they sold it in 2017. The Freemasons are a fraternal, closed membership society that has temples and groups all over the world.
7
Forest Park
10 minutes
We’re about to enter Forest Park. This massive 1,300-acre park dates back to 1876 and is the heart of downtown St. Louis. For comparison, New York City’s Central Park is only 843 acres!
8
St. Louis Zoo
10 minutes
This is one of many attractions built specifically for the World’s Fair in 1904 that happened to be too good to just throw away. Originally, though, it wasn’t a proper zoo. It was just an aviary on loan from Washington D.C. and a few exotic animal exhibits.
9
Saint Louis Art Museum
10 minutes
That’s King Louis IX of France! Known as the Apotheosis of St. Louis, this statue is actually a replica of the original.
10
Emerson Grand Basin
10 minutes
During the World’s Fair, this basin was the center of attention. All the temporary exhibition buildings were situated around this body of water, meaning that everyone who visited got to take in this gorgeous view.
11
Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor & Education Center
15 minutes
We’ve reached the end of our tour. The visitor center is just ahead, and parking is on the right. I highly recommend parking here, grabbing a map, and spending more time here in Forest Park.
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