Let's talk about how the St. Louis Riverfront has evolved throughout the centuries to become the tourist destination it is today...
St. Louis was founded as a fur-trading post on the Mississippi River in 1764, quickly becoming a hub of commerce and industry.
The 19th century brought steamboats, revolutionizing transportation and commerce on the Mississippi River, and St. Louis became a major center of steamboat traffic.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, St. Louis underwent rapid industrialization, causing the riverfront to fall into decline.
In the late 20th century, St. Louis began a period of revitalization and reinvention, highlighted by the construction of the Gateway Arch in the 1960s.
The Gateway Arch became an instant icon and symbol of the city's resilience and adaptability over the centuries.
In recent decades, St. Louis has continued to invest in the riverfront, building new attractions, parks, and public spaces.