St. Louis — The Forgotten Melody Mystery

Your quest begins at the Old Courthouse in St. Louis, a National Historic Landmark built between 1839 and 1862. It was here that Dred Scott first sued for his freedom in 1846, and again in 1847 and 1857, events that profoundly influenced the course of the Civil War. The 58-meter high dome, inspired by the U.S. Capitol, towers above you while the National Park Service exhibits, installed after the 2002 restoration, immerse you in Missouri's legal history. Every stone whispers the echoes of these nation-defining decisions.

Continue your investigation at Gateway Arch National Park, established in 2018 from the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial of 1935. This vast 91-hectare park along the Mississippi, the former site of the city of Saint Louis, is dominated by the Gateway Arch. Inaugurated on June 4, 1967, this 192-meter high stainless steel arch, designed by Eero Saarinen and built between 1963 and 1965, is a powerful symbol of westward expansion. Observation capsules at 192 meters offer views up to 48 km on a clear day, while the underground museum, open since 1968, tells the story of this conquest, attracting 3.5 million annual visitors in 2023.

Your journey then leads you to the Eads Bridge, a National Historic Landmark opened on July 4, 1874. It was the world's first steel bridge, an engineering marvel designed by James Buchanan Eads. With a total length of 1,964 meters and a main span of 158 meters, it withstood the Mississippi flood of 1874 thanks to its deep 35-meter piers. This combined rail and road bridge, active until 1992, connects not only two banks but also two eras, symbolizing St. Louis's motto: "The Gateway to the West."

Following the original granite cobblestones, you'll arrive at Laclede's Landing, a historic district from the 1880s listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The old red-brick warehouses, converted into restaurants and bars since the 1970s, now form the heart of St. Louis's nightlife. This location, between the Eads Bridge and Olive Street, bears witness to the city's transformation, a crossroads where industrial past meets contemporary vitality. Each facade tells a story of commerce and community.

The mystery of the forgotten melody finally leads you to the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, at 2658 Delmar Boulevard. This house, inhabited by Scott Joplin from 1901 to 1907, has been a National Historic Landmark since 1976 and houses a museum since 1983. It was here that the King of Ragtime composed his famous 'The Entertainer' in 1902, later popularized in 'The Sting' in 1973. Restored to its 1904 condition, the house allows you to feel the composer's inspiration. Your exploration of St. Louis, from legal heritage to visionary engineering and the rhythms of ragtime, will have revealed the many facets of this Missouri city, a true "Gateway to the West."