Whether you are a long time resident of the St. Louis area or if you have just relocated, there are many interesting facts about the City that will probably surprise you...as it did me. Here they are: 1. St. Louis is the home of the worlds largest brewery....Anheuser Bush. 2. Peanut butter was discovered by a St. Louis doctor. 3. St. Louisians consume more barbecue sauce per capita than any other city in America. 4. The first lung cancer operation and first lung transplants were performed in St. Louis. 5. The soft drink, Dr. Pepper, was introduced at the 1904 Worlds Fair. 6. The soft drink, 7-Up, was also formulated in St. Louis. 7. St. Louis was the site of the demonic possession treated by a Jesuit priest from St. Louis University Theological. It inspired the book and later the movie, The Exorcist. 8. The ice cream cone was invented at the 1904 Worlds Fair. Also, that is true for Iced Tea. Hot dogs and hamburgers were popularized there. 9. The largest collection of mosaic art in the world graces the walls and ceilings at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis in the Central West end. 10. St. Louis is home of the oldest institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River - St. Louis University. 11. Hawken Rifles and Murphy Wagons, used by the western pioneers, were made here. 12. The cocktails, Planters Punch, Martini, Bloody Mary, and Tom Collins were invented at a St. Louis hotel, the Planters House. 13. The custom of placing chocolates on hotel pillows began here when the actor, Cary Grant, stayed at the Mayfair Hotel, and used chocolates to woo a woman friend. 14. The first Jewish congregation west of the Mississippi River was founded here as the first library west of the river. 15. Famous writers including T.S. Eliot, Maya Angelou, William Gass, Tennessee Williams, Eugene Field and many others lived in St. Louis. 16. The Missouri Botanical Garden is among the top three botanical gardens in the world. 17. The first ironclad boat was built by James Buchanan Eads in the Port of St. Louis. Mr. Eads also invented the diving bell to salvage steamboat wrecks from the Mississippi River. He also built the first bridge using steel truss construction - the 1874 Eads Bridge. 18. St. Louis offers more free, major visitor attractions than anyone outside of the nations capital: St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Zoo, Cahokia Mounds Museum of Westward Expansion, St. Louis Science Center, Missouri History Museum, Anheuser-Bush Brewery, Grants Farm and more. 19. The first kindergarten in the U.S. was founded here by Susan Blow. 20. Peanut butter was invented here on a visit from George Carver. 21. Famous musicians include Chuck berry, Tina Turner, Miles Davis, Albert King, David Sanborn, Michael McDonald (the Doobie Brothers) were from St. Louis. Sheryl Crowe taught school here, also. 22. St. Louis was the first American city to host the Olympic Games (1904). 23. Famous contemporary actors include: John Goodman, Kevin Kline and Scott Bakula were born here. Others call St. Louis home: Josephine Baker, Betty Grable, Vincent Price, Buddy Ebsen, Redd Foxx, Shelly Winters, Virginia Mayo, Marsha Mason and others. 24. The Mercury and Gemini space capsules were built in St. Louis by McDonnell Dougles (Boeing). 25. The worlds first skyscraper - Louis Sullivans Wainright Building - was built in 1897 in St. Louis. 26. Charles Lindbergh flew mail routes into St. Louis and named his plane Spirit of St. Louis to thank the businessmen who provided financial help for his solo Atlantic flight in 1927. 27. The nations first interstate highway was constructed here. 28. The Gateway Arch at 630 ft. is the nations tallest man-made monument. 29. The bread slicer was invented here circa 1900. 30. The second professional fire dept in USA was started here in 1850. 31. Gen. Grant and Gen. Lee both served as new West Point officers at St. Louis. 32. Jefferson Barracks is the largest military cemetery in the US and was the site of one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War with 25,000 killed. 33. Pork steaks were invented in St. Louis. 34. Corkball was a St.Louis sport
Posted on: Thu, 22 May 2014 17:20:12 +0000
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