Anyone know any history-related attractions in or near St. Louis

[ChoralScholar]

I'm visiting St. Louis with the wife and little boy, and our two best friends.

Are there any historical things to see, or sites to visit...

Things I just shouldn't miss?

[City Lights]

1. Don't miss the City Museum. It's fantastic.

We couldn't get our kids to leave, and actually enjoyed it ourselves.

Experience a magical world forged of recycled, recovered and reshaped treasures. In addition to housing some of the most captivating interactive art, City Museum unleashes the fascinated, childlike spirit stored within every explorer who passes through its doors. This is a place you've only imagined in dreams.

[Sandpiper]

2. The Old Court House

Where the Dred Scott case was first heard.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. There's all sorts of caves just outside St Louis and some are

open to the public including one where the James bros (or at least Jesse) hid out. YOur kid would probably enjoy that. They're not far out of town

[Sandpiper]

4. The Zoo and Art Museum are both free

The zoo is world class, and the art museum has a nice collection of impressionist paintings.

[deadparrot]

5. Let's see...

Check out Forest Park, most everything in there was created around the time of the 1904 World's Fair--free history museum, free art museum, excellent free zoo)

Grant's Farm-animal park, built on President Grant's wife's land--the original house is on the property; free admission, $6 for parking.

Those are two good places for people with kids. There are a lot of little historic towns scattered around, too

Here's a good site: http://www.explorestlouis.com/index.asp

[Wickerman]

6. The whole City is historic

There are a wonderful series of cisterns that were artfully conceived and maintained. High towers that pumped water for what was the bustling gateway to the West.

There is a restored train depot that has some great architecture. If you stand in one corner of it you can carry on a conversation at a normal voice and the acoustics of the room will carry that conversation across the room to another spot where you can be heard perfectly, even when the room is jammed with people.

The arch.

Some other stuff that slips my mind. I was there several times as a kid, mainly passing through. Was there for a 5 day conference a couple of years ago and it was a fun town. Mercantile/cattle town that fought with Chicago for stockyards supremacy at the turn of the century. It became, actually, just a way station.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

7. As this is the bicentennial year of Lewis & Clark's Expedition,

I'm sure there will be plenty of historical sites to visit in the greater St. Louis area.

I would definitely recommend the Old Court House, the Cathedral and trip up the Arch (Gateway to the West). The Zoo in St. Louis is fantastic as well.

[City Lights]

8. If you like trains, don't miss the Museum of Transportation.

http://www.museumoftransport.org/

[mikebl]

9. brewery

As much as I hate the Anheuser-Busch brewery, take the tour, it's free and from what I've heard it's worth the trip.

Lot's of historic buildings dating back to the Civil War around Jefferson Barracks south of the city.

Lved here all my life, can't wait till I retire and move out West, but there are a lot of historical stuff in this town.

[ChoralScholar]

10. Thanks everyone for the tips

We'll be here until Friday Morning, so hopefully we will get to see some of these things.

Thanks again!

[LiberallyInclined]

11. the Arch...

go early.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. There's a great musuem

under the arch.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

13. Lewis & Clark expedition - junction of the Missouri & Mississippi Rivers

It's interesting.

[legally blonde]

14. definitely check out the zoo

and the art museum. The science center is also pretty cool as I recall (it's been a few years since I've been) as well as the Botanical gardens.

Soulard (downtown area) and Forest Park are also great places to see.

If you are looking for a good place to eat, there are some excellent Italian restuarants on The Hill.

Here are some websites that might be helpful:
http://www.downtownstlouis.org
http://www.digitalcity.com/stlouis
http://www.riverfronttimes.com
http://www.stltoday.com