The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri is a 630-foot monument to Western expansion in the United States. It overlooks a city known for its barbecue, blues music and art. It's a modern marvel to behold.At night, the Arch holds sway over the darker side of the city. Nightclubs, dimly lit bars and people leading secret lives takes place in its shadows. Sometimes, the criminal element comes out to play. If you're not careful, you might just find yourself getting yeeted into the afterl...

Take an Historic Tour through the Gateway City St, Louis is well known for its stunning arch that represents the Gateway to the West. But the city has many more exciting landmarks and historic sites that offer a glimpse into the past. Join Author Vicki Berger Erwin as she guides you through the rich past of an iconic city.

A loving mother. A teenage killer. "Plenty of lurid details and twists and turns . . . A story about the consequences of an overwhelmed justice system" ( West End Word).On a crisp December day in 1963, Nancy Zanone left her young son and daughter playing in the backyard while she went inside to check the laundry. She never came back. A troubled teen prowling for unlocked doors along Chippewa in South St. Louis surprised her in the kitchen and stabbed her t...

Since the settling of St. Charles as Les Petites Cotes (the little hills) by Louis Blanchette in 1769, the riverfront area has been important to the commercial and social growth of the city. Today it is a vibrant example of historic preservation. Yet, in the 1960s, the area was endangered as the once-lovely buildings deteriorated. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated citizens prompted by the restoration of the first state capitol property, the area underwent a revitalization and rebirth. The...

From the duel on Bloody Island to the "Missouri Miracle" kidnapping and recovery of Shawn Hornbeck, Missouri has seen its share of notorious crimes. It was home to the first western gunfight on the town square between Wild Bill Hickok and Dave Tutt. The three trials of the alleged murderer of Colonel Thomas Swope, the founder of Kansas City's Swope Park, enveloped the state. Residents also saw the killings within a few blocks of each other that inspired the songs "Stagger Lee" and "Frankie...

After its founding in 1836, Mexico was named county seat of the newly formed Audrain County. Growth in the primarily agricultural region was slow until the coming of the North Missouri Railroad and the Graduation Act that made land available from the federal government for 12.5� an acre. With the introduction of breeding and training saddle horses, the discovery of fire clay deposits, and the implementation of more efficient means of turning the clay into heat resistant brick, Mexico�s sta...

During the nineteenth century, more than three hundred boats met their end in the steamboat graveyard that was the Lower Missouri River, from Omaha to its mouth. Although derided as little more than an "orderly pile of kindling," steamboats were, in fact, technological marvels superbly adapted to the river's conditions. Their light superstructure and long, wide, flat hulls powered by high-pressure engines drew so little water that they could cruise on "a heavy dew" even when fully loaded. ...

A gateway to the west in its own right, St. Charles County is today one of the fastest growing counties in the country and encompasses a number of communities, each with its own charming character. Abundantly rich in history, it is home to the first state capitol, numerous sites on the National Register of Historic Places, the Daniel Boone home, and areas traveled by Lewis and Clark on their Expedition, including their starting point. In addition, the county boasts specialty shopping inclu...