World's Fair sites you must see during your St. Louis trip

Dominic Genetti, dominic.genetti@hearst.com

Oct. 19, 2021

If you're next trip is taking you to or through St. Louis, Missouri there's a few things you don't want to miss out on experiencing.

The Gateway Arch, an Anheuser-Busch brewery tour, the St. Louis Zoo (free and open year-round), and of course all the food. You'll definitely want to try toasted ravioli and gooey butter cake. And let's not forget a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game if you come in the summer.

But St. Louis has a lot of history too; former first lady Julia Dent Grant is from St. Louis, capsules used during the space race were made here, and then there's the majestic 1904 World's Fair. You may have heard of it.

It's the backdrop for the Judy Garland classic, "Meet Me in St. Louis," it's where the waffle-cone was invented, and it's where George Ferris showed off his massive wheel - the Ferris Wheel - for the second and last time.

Nearly 120 years later and the 1904 World's Fair is just as captivating as it was amazing.

Is it the turn of the century wonders it provided? Was it the lights? Does Judy Garland have anything to do with its lasting legacy?

Whatever the reasoning may be, it was undoubtedly the greatest fair the world had ever seen and the awe of it still shines as bright as those amazing lights that told every witness the 20th century was here and things were going to change for the better.

Afterward, buildings, statues, and other features of the great fair were destroyed. The Ferris Wheel sat as an eyesore for a couple years and was eventually imploded, the grand palaces met the wrecking ball, and a lot of the beautiful artwork was shattered to pieces.

But not everything became a pile of dust.

Wood from some of the buildings went on to be used to build homes in The Hill neighborhood of St. Louis - a settlement of Italian immigrants; pavilions that represented each of the current United States became homes throughout the city; statuary was purchased and displayed in public and private spaces; and other similar and significant features were dismantled and sent throughout the country.

Ever passed through Birmingham, Alabama? That giant Vulcan statue nearly 200-feet off the ground is from the 1904 World's Fair. Ever heard an organ playing at Macy's Center City in Philadelphia? That organ is from the 1904 World's Fair.

But what's still lingering around St. Louis? Well, let's find out together and take a look at 10 features from the 1904 World's Fair you can find in St. Louis today...

Valhalla Cemetery: Inside the large mausoleum at Valhalla Cemetery in North St. Louis County, you'll find this statue of a boy playing his mandolin. It was on display at the fair and now sits on a pedestal in a fountain. If you ever make your way to see it, be sure to pay your respects to a couple of baseball legends. St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Marty Marion is laid to rest here, as well as longtime Cardinals General Manager Bing Devine. — Dominic Genetti
**Valhalla Cemetery:** Inside the large mausoleum at Valhalla Cemetery in North St. Louis County, you'll find this statue of a boy playing his mandolin.

It was on display at the fair and now sits on a pedestal in a fountain.

If you ever make your way to see it, be sure to pay your respects to a couple of baseball legends. St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Marty Marion is laid to rest here, as well as longtime Cardinals General Manager Bing Devine.

Utah Pavilion: The Pleateau of States was a popular spot on the fairgrounds, today it's the site of the St. Louis Zoo. Many states had their own buildings or pavilions, like their own mini museums. This house in St. Louis' Dogtown neighborhood, located at the corner of Childress and Nashville avenues, served as the Utah pavilion during the fair. For many years the structure looked exactly as it did on the fairgrounds, but in recent years, the triangular third story was added. — Dominic Genetti
**Utah Pavilion:** The Pleateau of States was a popular spot on the fairgrounds, today it's the site of the St. Louis Zoo.

Many states had their own buildings or pavilions, like their own mini museums.

This house in St. Louis' Dogtown neighborhood, located at the corner of Childress and Nashville avenues, served as the Utah pavilion during the fair.

For many years the structure looked exactly as it did on the fairgrounds, but in recent years, the triangular third story was added.

Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben statue: After being on display during the 1904 World's Fair, this statue had several owners before making its way to another large St. Louis park — Tower Grove. The statue has been moved to a more secure area of the park so it can be under watchful eyes as it has been broken, vandalized and nearly stolen over the years. — Dominic Genetti
**Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben statue:** After being on display during the 1904 World's Fair, this statue had several owners before making its way to another large St. Louis park — Tower Grove.

The statue has been moved to a more secure area of the park so it can be under watchful eyes as it has been broken, vandalized and nearly stolen over the years.

St. Louis Art Museum: Built as the Palace of Fine Arts for the 1904 World's Fair, the building was not made of the building material called staff like the others were, so it wasn't deteriorating by the time the fair ended. It has since become a focal point in Forest Park where the Fair was held, and is a free museum to the public that offers insight to the history and many eras of art. You can even see a real mummy, too. — Dominic Genetti
**St. Louis Art Museum:** Built as the Palace of Fine Arts for the 1904 World's Fair, the building was not made of the building material called staff like the others were, so it wasn't deteriorating by the time the fair ended.

It has since become a focal point in Forest Park where the Fair was held, and is a free museum to the public that offers insight to the history and many eras of art.

You can even see a real mummy, too.

Busch Family plot: This statue was on display at the World's Fair and now sits at Sunset Memorial Park, a cemetery. It marks the Busch Family plot, as in Anheuser-Busch beer. You'll find several members of the Busch family here, including August A. Busch Jr., the longtime owner of the St. Louis Cardinals. — Dominic Genetti
**Busch Family plot:** This statue was on display at the World's Fair and now sits at Sunset Memorial Park, a cemetery.

It marks the Busch Family plot, as in Anheuser-Busch beer.

You'll find several members of the Busch family here, including August A. Busch Jr., the longtime owner of the St. Louis Cardinals.