By 1850s, St. Louis became the largest U.S. city west of Pittsburgh and the second-largest port in the country. The city was separated from St. Louis County and become an independent city on July 4, 1876. The city known by various nicknames, including the "Gateway City", "Gateway to the West" and "Mound City" grew during the 19th and 20th centuries. Being one of the most historic cities in the United States, St. Louis is the largest metropolis in Missouri and the 18th largest Metropolis in the country.
Area & Location: The city that lies 100-200 feet above the western banks of the Mississippi River is located at 38º38'53? Latitude North and 90º12'44? Longitude West. It occupies a total area of 171.3 sq. km with 160.4 sq. km of land and 11.0 sq. km of water. Around 352,572 people reside in the city.
Transportation: Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport serve the city. Metrolink, bus system, light rail train system, passenger train service, streetcar system and trolley service are the forms of transportation in the city. Interstate highways like I-70, I-55, I-44, I-64, I-255, I-170 and I-270 and numerous state and county highways make the road system a well-built one.
Hotels: Westin St. Louis, Hilton St. Louis Downtown, Drury Plaza Hotel, Hampton Inn - St. Louis Downtown at the Gateway Arch, Renaissance St. Louis Suites Hotel, Ritz-Carlton St. Louis, Renaissance Grand Hotel, Omni Majestic Hotel, Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, Drury Inn and Suites Convention Center, Clubhouse Inn & Suites St. Louis, Marriott St. Louis Airport, Hyatt Regency St. Louis and Staybridge Suites St. Louis are the world-class hotels in the city where the tourists often prefer to spend their nights. The tasty dishes served and the comfy rooms offered attract more people to it.
Places of Attraction: The umpteen number of museums in the city include City Museum, Eugene Field House, Missouri History Museum, International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum, The Delmar Loop, Butterfly House, Museum of Transportation, the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Missouri History Museum. It also hosts a number of churches and historical places like Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Roman Catholic cathedral designed in the Byzantine and Romanesque styles, Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, The Hill, Laclede's Landing, Eads Bridge, Soulard Market district, the Chatillon-de Menil House, the Bellefontaine Cemetery, the Robert G. Campbell House, the Old Courthouse, the original Anheuser-Busch Brewery and two main skyscrapers the Wainwright Building and The Lemp Mansion. The recreational and entertainment centers in the city are Amusement park in Eureka, Missouri, Magic House, a children's hands-on exploration museum, and Worldways Children's Museum, an international children's cultural museum, Forest Park, Central Park, the Saint Louis Zoological Park, the Municipal Theatre, St. Louis Science Center, Missouri Botanical Garden and Tower Grove Park.
