Monday, August 3, 2015

St. Louis: The Old State Courthouse

We made the time to visit the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. I had never been but my wife had spent some of her childhood in the state of Missouri and had some memories of past visits.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015  Starting the St. Louis Arch Tour Day

Itsy-Bit was anxious to begin the day tour of the St. Louis Arch.

 Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Itsy Bits Photogenic Pose

The Old State Courthouse was well-maintained and reflected well against the modern glass buildings. Getting tickets for a paddle-boat ride or a tour of the Arch is accomplished currently in the Old State Courthouse while the waterfront National Park area is under renewal construction.

 Copyright James E. Martin 2015  The Old State Courthouse

The interior of the Courthouse is majestic with cool, limestone floor blocks and soaring columns to the capital dome. There were lots of opportunities to view historical displays in different wings of the building.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Old State Courthouse Interior

A view of the old staircases in the Courthouse wing. 


Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Old State Courthouse Staircase

A mural in the Courthouse depicts the Intercontinental railroad and buffalo, two factors influential in the westward expansion of the United States through St. Louis, the gateway to the West.

Original Photo: Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Old State Courthouse Mural

And mural detail of train and buffalo.



 Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Courthouse Mural Detail 01

And mural detail of buffalo.


Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Courthouse Mural Detail 02

The Courthouse had a buffalo skull on display.


 Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Buffalo Skull Display

My youngest child, Itsy Bit, was surprised to see a full-size Conestoga wagon, an old-fashioned version of our Honda Odyssey, that brought families ad their belongings westward from the big cities.


Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Conestoga Wagon Display

A mural reproduction depicts the Golden Land of milk and honey with a view to riches untold in the Western mining fields.

 Copyright James E. Martin 2015  Immigrants Guide to the Golden Land

And miner detail.

Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Golden Land Mural Detail 01 

Some more detail of the gold miners.

 Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Golden Land Mural Detail 02

And more detail of the gold miners.


 Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Golden Land Mural Detail 03

And a final view of the gold miners in detail.


Copyright James E. Martin 2015 Golden Land Mural Detail 04

Today's blog entry reminds me of the previous blurb I did on Precious Dust: The True Saga of the Western Gold Rushes by Paula Mitchell Marks(1994).


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