After visiting the Arch, we walked across the street to take a ride on the appropriately named Tom Sawyer Steamboat.
Picture of the Arch and downtown from the steamboat.
Right next to the dock is the helipad. Rides around the Arch and downtown are actually pretty inexpensive. They start at $35. It's on our Explore St. Louis to do list, but I'm not real sure that Tony is on board with this plan.
Eads Bridge
This world famous bridge is an iconic St. Louis symbol. It is a combined road and railway bridge that connects St. Louis with East St. Louis, IL.
The bridge is named for its designer and builder, James Eads. When it was completed in 1874, it was the longest arch bridge in the world. Both its ribbed steel arch spans and the use of steel as a primary structural material were considered daring at the time. It was the first such use of true steel in a major bridge project.
The Eads Bridge was also the first bridge to be built using a cantilever support methods exclusively, and one of the first to make use of pneumatic cassions. They are still some of the deepest ever sunk.
On opening day June 14, 1874, they sent a test elephant across the bridge to prove it was safe. It was believed that the instincts of an elephant would keep them from setting foot on unsafe structures.
The bridge is still in use today for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
In the bottom left corner, you can see the monument dedicated to Lewis and Clark. It was dedicated in September of 2006 and is called the Captains Return.
This century-old riverboat-turned-casino is great part of St. Louis history. Unfortunately, it's expected to be dismantled soon.
The Edward Jones Dome and Lumiere Casino
The Edward Jones Dome is home to the St. Louis Rams. It was also host to a Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II, which was the largest indoor gathering ever hosted in the United States.
Lumiere Place casino is pretty interesting. It's a beautiful glass building that also has the largest electronic sign that I've ever seen right on the interstate. I need to try and take a picture of it. Words can't describe how enormous it is.
Like most states with legalized gambling, the casinos have to be floating on river water. Clearly, Lumiere Place isn't a typical boat. The designers took advantage of a little loop-hole and built a manmade basin in which the casino portion floats. It is filled with water from the Mississippi River. Patrons don't even realize that they are entering a boat. They use a restraining device that keeps the floor floating at the same level regardless of how many people are on board.
Driving the piles for a new bridge that will also connect St. Louis to Illinois.
Look closely. See the funny thing sticking out of the water? That's not part of the bridge. Last year, a barge ran into the bridge and sunk. They have already tried to raise it twice with no success. Another attempt is planned after the first of the year when the water levels drop.
I'm guessing that you don't get to keep your job when you run your boat into a bridge. Just my guess.
Another picture of the wreck.
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