Historic St Charles Missouri

St Charles Christmas Market 2022 /suttong.com

St Charles Missouri was Missouri's first State Capitol between 1801 and 1826.

We stopped by for the annual Christmas market and parade. Parking at the historic Lewis and Clark Boathouse, pictured below, soon filled up.

Further along by the river is the old railroad station.

The Missouri River runs parallel to Main Street where locals and visitors gathered to watch the parade event between shopping and eating.

St Charles MO / G Sutton 2022

A vendor sells chestnuts and wassail.

St Charles MO/ G Sutton 2022

The sign to the left marks the old trail to Fort Osage, established August 25, 1808. General Clark and his men were guided by Nathan Boone, son of Daniel Boone as they headed west.

We saw a variety of Christmas gifts and lots of food-- a sample.

You can hear these women sing in the video below.

The Mistletoe Misses

The English Shop got my attention--but I think they should call it British.

At the end of the parade, Santa appeared.

There's a touch of international flavour.

Here's a video of the Christmas parade we watched 4 December 2022.

About St Charles, Missouri

St. Charles, Missouri, has a rich history that dates back to 1769 when it was founded by French Canadian fur trader Louis Blanchette as Les Petites Côtes (The Little Hills). The city was initially under Spanish control and later became known as San Carlos Borromeo before finally being renamed St. Charles.

In 1804, St. Charles gained historical significance as the starting point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The city also served as Missouri's first state capital from 1821 to 18262. Throughout the 19th century, German settlers contributed to the area's development, establishing a thriving wine region and bringing their culture and commerce.

Today, St. Charles is known for its historic sites, charming downtown, and annual festivals that celebrate its rich heritage. It continues to be a vibrant community with a deep appreciation for its history.

One of their biggest festivals is Heritage Days -- a re-enactment of Lewis & Clark's 1804 camp.

St Charles is less than a half-hour west of St Louis where we visited other sites during our Christmas getaway.

Click for Google Map

See other St Louis Area posts

Wild Lights at St Louis Zoo

GLOW at Missouri Botanical Gardens

Please check out my website   www.suttong.com

   and see my books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Also, consider connecting with me on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   X  @Geoff.W.Sutton    

 

Big Cats at St Louis Zoo Missouri USA

 

Cheetah/ Photo by Geoff Sutton 2012
Nikon Coolpix

We have been visiting the St Louis Zoo for about 50 years. It's a fabulous zoo located in beautiful  Forest Park St. Louis, Missouri. I decided to make this page about the Big Cats because they are the favorites of my grandchildren.

Lions are social animals living in groups called prides. They live in the grasslands and savannas of Africa. The male is larger than the female and has a large mane about its head.*

Lion by Geoff Sutton, 2021/Cannon EOS 70D

I took this photo of a cheetah 22 October 2021-- the cropped version is at the top of this post. The cheetah is the fastest land animal with speeds of 80 to 128 kmh (50 to 80 mph). They range in length between 3.6 to 4.9 feet and the adults weight between 20 to 65 kg (44 to 143 pounds). ***

The coluring of the tigers is amazing. And this one is a fitting specimen to represent the Missouri Tigers though I would hope the athletes are more energetic.

Tigers can be found in India, Nepal, Russia and China. They weigh between 220 and 660 pounds and measure 6 to 10 feet in length. They may live as long as 20 years in the wild.

Tiger 10 March 2021/Geoff Sutton

Jaguars are the largest cats in South America. Leopards look similar to Jaguars but one key difference can be found in the "spots." The rosettes on the Jaguar have inner spots but those on Leopards do not. There is a size difference, which may not be obvious in a zoo. Jaguars weigh 36 to 158 kg compared to Leopards, which range from 17 to 90. Here's a useful link panthera.org.

I took all of the photos on this page at the St Louis Zoo using either my Nikon Coolpix camera or my Canon SLR EOS 70D.

As of the date of this post, admission to the St Louis Zoo is free but there is a charge for parking. Free parking can sometimes be found along the side of the roads around Forest Park. 

See more Big Cats

A female lion eyeing a giraffe in Kenya

My YouTube video of a female lion rejecting a male lion Kruger Park South Africa

My YouTube video including a lion in Kenya at Kenya Wildlife

My Tiger video in Ranthambore wildlife park, India 

My lion video from the Smithsonian Zoo

My tiger video from the Smithsonian Zoo

Notes

* Read more about lions at wikipedia.

** Read more about tigers at world wildlife

*** Read more about cheetahs at wikipedia

Check out my webpage suttong.com

See my Books

 

  AMAZON       

 

  GOOGLE STORE

St Louis Art Museum

St Louis Art Museum Photo Geoff W Sutton 8 July 2016

The St Louis Art Museum is worth a visit if you have even a few extra hours in St Louis. It is conveniently located in Forest Park nearby other places of interest. I would rate this 9 of 10 stars for a pleasant, educational, affordable art Museum experience.

 Admission is free. Check for the most recent hours. Recently, hours were limited to 10-5 most days, later on Friday and closed Mondays. Parking is free in some lots and at a cost in the garage.

The collection includes more than 30,000 works. You can see a few thousand online (www.slam.org).

There are works and activities of interest for children on up. The Museum shops contain some inexpensive , some unique, and of course some expensive items. As with most places I found the cost of dining rather expensive compared to what is available in the community. But you can take a lunch. There are plenty of picnic tables outside.

The museum hosts special events and you can arrange group tours. As with most places, check online for the latest information.

You will find a diverse collection of objects from many parts of the world as well as local works.

The collection includes examples of art spanning thousands of years.

Bull's Head 2600-2450 BCE, Sumerian Photo by Geoff W. Sutton

Acts of  Nebuchadnezzar II, 604-562 BCE

Roman cremation urn c 1st-2nd Century

English, View in Suffolk, Gainsborough, c1755

European Paintings & Sculpture

Italian, Interior St Peter's, Panini, 1731

French, St. John the Baptist, Rodin, 1878

There are several dioramas including rooms in Early American homes, 

which include furniture, fabrics and paintings.

Native American





The African collection includes objects from various parts of the continent.

Birthing Couple, Mali

My ratings 1-10 and 10 is the best.

Overall = 9
Parking = 8 (free nearby; $$ onsite)
Admission fee = 10 (free!)
Appearance =  9
Grounds = 7 (nice, not exceptional)
Friendliness of staff = 9
Cleanliness of toilets = 9
Cost of dining = 7

My ad- I write about religion, psychology, and culture

Please check out my website   www.suttong.com

   and see my books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Also, consider connecting with me on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton