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ST. LOUIS — October 19, 2011 — Welcome to St. Louis, home of the National League Champion St. Louis Cardinals and the best baseball fans in the world. One of the most storied teams in all of baseball, the Cardinals brought home their 18^th National League pennant and aim for their 11^th World Series championship — #11 in ’11.
While the national pastime and the Cardinals have been a cornerstone in the life of St. Louisans for more than a century, the following facts provide a glimpse at some of the other outstanding things that reflect St. Louis’ fascinating history and character.  

Name: Founded in 1764 by French fur traders, the city was named in honor of King Louis IX, the Crusader King and patron saint of France. 

Symbol:  Since its completion in 1965, the glorious Gateway Arch has been the internationally recognized symbol of St. Louis and the city’s historic role in the nation’s expansion from coast-to-coast. Officially named the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the 630-foot-high, stainless steel structure is a monument to President Thomas Jefferson’s dream of a continental United States. 

Sports Heroes:  The 2011 Cardinals are joining an elite group of sports greats who hailed from or demonstrated their athletic prowess in St. Louis. Among baseball’s greats with a St. Louis connection are James “Cool Papa” Bell, Yogi Berra, Lou Brock, Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson, Rogers Hornsby, Stan “The Man” Musial, Red Schoendienst and Ozzie Smith. 

Historic Sports Town:  The fact that St. Louis hosted the first Olympic games held in the U.S. may have started the residents’ love affair with sports. The 1904 Olympic Games took place at Francis Field at Washington University in St. Louis and within Forest Park. 

On the Street Where You Live:  Known as Hall of Fame Place, the 5400 block of Elizabeth Avenue on The Hill, St. Louis’ Italian neighborhood, was home to three baseball Hall-of-Famers – the incomparable Yogi Berra and two other gentleman also noted for their oratory skills: former Redbird catcher and broadcaster Joe Garagiola and Jack Buck, the immortal “voice of the Cardinals.” Yogi and Joe grew up playing sandlot baseball together in the neighborhood noted for its Italian restaurants, bakeries and fireplugs painted in the Italian tri-color. It’s the only street in America where three baseball Hall of Fame inductees have resided. Yogi lived at 5447 Elizabeth from 1930 to 1948, Joe at 5446 from 1929 to 1949 and Jack at 5405 from 1954 to 1959. 

Signature Sound #1:  The Blues were born here and man, do they wail!  The iconic American musical form can be heard nightly at clubs and pubs all over town but especially in the historic Soulard neighborhood, just minutes south of Busch Stadium, and the Laclede’s Landing entertainment district along the banks of the Mississippi.

Feed Me in St. Louis:  St. Louis’ signature dish is toasted ravioli, palate-pleasing pillows of pasta stuffed with meat, deep-fried and served with marinara sauce. The famous “Meet Me in St. Louis” 1904 World’s Fair popularized many items new to the American food landscape including the ice cream cone, hot dog and iced tea. Gooey butter coffee cake is an only-in-St. Louis pastry treat that is as sticky and gooey and scrumptious as it sounds. Speaking of sticky and gooey, did you know that peanut butter was invented in St. Louis? Popular culture has taught many of us that famous inventor George Washington Carver created the nutty spread. Turns out an unidentified St. Louis physician made the first batch in 1890. The recipe was later perfected and commercialized by a local snack food manufacturer named George Bayle. Famous beverages including Anheuser-Busch beers and 7-Up were created here and the town boasts a soda pop microbrewery named Fitz’s. St. Paul sandwiches, fried Egg Foo Yung on white bread, is an item found only at Chinese restaurants throughout St. Louis. Then, there’s St. Louis style, thin-crust pizza topped with a creamy cheese known as “provel.” A settling finale to this litany of foods: Tums antacids were invented and are still produced in downtown, just across the street from Busch Stadium.

The Mother Road:  Get your kicks on Route 66 which winds through The Lou starting at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge across the Mississippi. The span is now the world’s longest pedestrian, hiking and biking bridge. St. Louis’ most famous Route 66 roadside attractions include Meramec Caverns, the outlaw Jesse James’ hideout and the oldest continually operating attraction on the highway and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard which serves concretes – milkshakes so thick they hand them to you upside down. Try the “Cardinal Sin,” a delectable combination of tart cherries and hot fudge. 

Free Spirit of St. Louis:  There are more free, world class attractions in St. Louis than anyplace outside our nation’s capital. Residents and visitors can enjoy free general admission and can have big fun at no cost at more than 60 attractions.  Freebie hot spots include St. Louis’ cultural gems – the Art Museum, Science Center, the world famous Zoo and History Museum. Free beer is poured at the end of the complimentary tour of the world’s largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch.  Historic homes, a renowned sculpture park, musical events including Broadway revivals and blues band performances, animal shows and military museums are available at St. Louis’ compliments. 

Visitors who want to know more about St. Louis should log on to www.explorestlouis.com or dial
1-800-916-0040. Heading to Arlington for the World Series? Find out where to get the best deals on hotel rooms, find the best tailgate parties and what to see before and after the game. Visit www.Arlington.org and find out why the Crowd Goes Wild!

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