St. Louis Hidden History Walking Tour

Get intimate with the Central West End! Enjoy a leisurely 3-mile walk with a local historian as they share epic tales of the complex history of St. Louis and its most populous neighborhood, the Central West End. Located just east of Forest Park and a few minutes from Downtown, the CWE features impressive architecture, great restaurants + shopping, and more!
You'll journey through the CWE's Gilded Age opulence centered around the 1904 World's Fair and the many faces that came after - from epicenter of society to "Party Central" to den of vice and back again. The artifacts of the CWE's complicated history remain visible to the naked eye if you just know where to look.
You'll discover why this beautiful turn-of-the-century neighborhood was named one of the “Great Places in America”, and hear forgotten (and often unsavory) history and epic struggles that kept the CWE alive as much of the city decayed around it.
Enjoy a few laughs, a tiny bit of exercise, and get to know the amazing CWE.

Meeting Point

4814 Washington Ave

4814 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA

Meet your tour guide at the Pierce Arrow Building (tan brick with purple awning) on Washington just east of Euclid Ave. Look for the CWE Tours sign.

What to expect:

Duration: 3 hours

Holy Corners District

400-600 North Kings Highway Blvd, , Saint Louis, 63108, Missouri

We're off to see some of the most impressive architecture from the World's Fair era that still remains, and it's completely outside of Forest Park. Hear hidden history and see artifacts from the early days of this "Valley of the Giants" listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Pass by without stopping

The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza St. Louis

212 Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA

Maryland Plaza and the surrounding homes and businesses have a rollercoaster history of booms and busts that have followed the arc of our city and the nation.

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St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

4967 Forest Park Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA

St. Louis is a city built by immigrants who struggled through famine, political upheaval and religious prosecution to carry forth culture and traditions that now are indelibly imprinted into the fabric of this city.

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Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis

4431 Lindell Blvd, at Newstead Ave, Saint Louis, 63108-2403, Missouri

St. Louis' European chapter began with the settlement of French Catholics, bolstered by the arrival of thousands of Irish Catholics throughout the 19th century. One can barely speak of any element of the history of St. Louis where the presence of the Catholic community was not felt, and the enormity of St. Louis' importance to the church was eventually made manifest in one of the great churches of the western world.

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