Saint Louis Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1

  While much of the area was bought up during the making of Gateway Arch National Park, there was one exception: The Old Cathedral. The Old Cathedral had always been a staple of the St. Louis community.

  25 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2

  Kiener was born and raised here in St. Louis, and throughout his youth gained a reputation as quite the sportsman. He made a name for himself in many sports, including boxing, wrestling, and swimming. He even participated in the 1904 Olympic games as part of the US track team.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  Over 170 architects from across the country submitted designs. Out of all the designs, it was Finnish-American Eero Saarinen’s crazy arch design that turned heads. It went against all ideas about what a monument ought to look like. And it wasn’t just about commemorating western expansion but also about marking the modern age. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months. The tour is over 10.5 miles long, with more than 47 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.

  Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  The twin pillars and fortress-like design are great examples of French Second Empire architecture. If it seems a little out of place, that was kind of the point! Following the Civil War, cities like St. Louis were reeling from losing the war. Officials wanted to restore pride back to local communities. So in 1873, Alfred Mullett was commissioned to design something to remind folks of St. Louis’s French roots.

  Admission ticket free
• 3

  When we reach the intersection of Locust and 13th, we’ll see the St. Louis Public Library on our left. You can’t miss this grand stone structure. The library system originally opened in 1865, though not in this building.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4

  Just past the next intersection, you’ll see a grand, multi-layered stone structure on our right with giant columns out front and huge bronze doors. This used to be a Freemason temple, though they sold it in 2017. The Freemasons are a fraternal, closed membership society that has temples and groups all over the world.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5

  We’re about to enter Forest Park. This massive 1,300-acre park dates back to 1876 and is the heart of downtown St. Louis. For comparison, New York City’s Central Park is only 843 acres!

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6

  This is one of many attractions built specifically for the World’s Fair in 1904 that happened to be too good to just throw away. Originally, though, it wasn’t a proper zoo. It was just an aviary on loan from Washington D.C. and a few exotic animal exhibits.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7

  That’s King Louis IX of France! Known as the Apotheosis of St. Louis, this statue is actually a replica of the original.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8

  During the World’s Fair, this basin was the center of attention. All the temporary exhibition buildings were situated around this body of water, meaning that everyone who visited got to take in this gorgeous view.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 9

  We’ve reached the end of our tour. The visitor center is just ahead, and parking is on the right. I highly recommend parking here, grabbing a map, and spending more time here in Forest Park.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
• How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
• Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you

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