Below is an article with everything you need to know about St. Charles, MO. You may want to come early to convention or extend your stay afterwards to visit many of the wonderful surroundings. I know I will. Last time IDAL had a mini convention there, Margaret Von Kaenel was nice enough to bring me to the Foundry. I still follow many of the artists whose work I saw there. If I lived there, I would have to apply for a studio!
“WELCOME TO ST. CHARLES, MO! DID YOU KNOW?
In 1990, the Walt Disney Studios used our Main Street as their primary filming location for the movie Back to Hannibal.
On August 13, 1956, with the first shovel in the ground, St Charles distinguished itself as the birthplace of the federal interstate system.
Horror icon Edgar Allan Poe wrote extensively about the area in his lesser-known novel The Journal of Julius Rodman.
”Doc Carr,” the inventor of the corn cob pipe, was a St. Charles resident. The old mill on the 900 block of Main Street, (now Schlafly Bankside Brewpub) acted as a factory for these novelty items.
A little mysterious - a lot of fun. St Charles main street is 250 years in the making!
With 71 independent shops and 47 restaurants, bars, coffee houses, and bakeries, there is something for everyone.
Much of St. Charles' history can be found in the buildings lining our Main Street which are
listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From the site of its first settler Louis Blanchette to innovators at OPO Startups in the 1909 Post Office, there is a bit of everything! From fur traders and blacksmiths, from Lewis and Clark's Corps and Missouri’s first Statesmen, these are the people that bring these buildings to life and share the history of St. Charles. As the Missouri River gave way to the Boone's Lick Road and the development of the railroads, we are part of America's westward expansion and the beginning of Missouri's Statehood. We invite you to explore them
Hit the Bricks, History in Every Step
Experience 250+ years of Saint Charles History... in one hour!
Join our HisTOURy Guides as they invite you to "Hit the Bricks" for a walking tour through history. Discover the fascinating people, places, and moments that have made Saint Charles historically awesome since 1769. Tours are offered every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday thru November 24th.
FRI & SAT: 12:30 PM | SUN: 2:30 PM https://www.discoverstcharles.com/things-to-do/main-street
At the end of Main Street you will find THE FOUNDRY ART CENTRE
The Foundry Art Centre resides in what was once a train car factory - a 1920s structure formerly owned by American Car & Foundry. Rather than demolish the 36,800 square foot building, the community of St. Charles worked tirelessly to complete a $2.2 million renovation and opened the region’s premiere, interactive, interdisciplinary art center in the spring of 2004.
The public’s active participation continues to make the Foundry Art Centre successful in our mission to connect people with the Arts through Exhibitions, Studio Artists, Performances, and Education.
Grand Hall
The Grand Hall is the setting for performances, community events, movie showings, weddings, fundraisers, parties, and more throughout the year. Industrial but modern and elegant, the Grand Hall is a beautiful backdrop for special events.
Main Galleries
The Foundry Art Centre’s Main Galleries feature over 4,000 sq ft of museum-quality exhibition space with state-of-the-art lighting and a/v capabilities. Artworks from around the world are exhibited in the Main Galleries, while an emphasis is placed on the extraordinary talent of our own region’s artists. The Director of Exhibitions (who will be our featured speaker at Convention) works with artists, colleagues, and the community to showcase a wide variety of exhibitions of the highest quality, keeping contemporary art trends in focus.
East Gallery
The East Gallery is the home gallery of the Foundry Studio Artists, who curate and exhibit exhibitions of their work on a near-monthly schedule.
Baue Family Children's Gallery
The Baue Family Children’s Gallery hosts children’s artwork from around the region. Over 300 schools have displayed student work in the gallery, showcasing the talent of thousands of youth.
Studio Artists
The Foundry Art Centre’s mezzanine level is currently home to 14 studio artists. These artists maintain a full studio practice at the Foundry and welcome visitors to learn more about their work, with many offering classes and workshops. Visit our Artist Directory Page for details on each of our studio artists.
FRENCHTOWN ON SECOND STREET
Just North of Historic Main Street St. Charles, Frenchtown is a growing arts district home to artisan coffee, antique shopping, and much more. When you're looking to get away from the norm, visit Frenchtown and discover history, creativity, and community!
Coffee nut? Or is it bean... anyway, you'll fall in love with the globally sourced and locally roasted beans at Course Coffee Roasters. Course is a micro coffee roastery that is obsessed with the art of coffee, including the unique stories and flavors of each region it comes from. These are seriously cool beans. If you're into coffee you will also love Sha's Coffee Beans, Tea Leaves, and Things. This family-owned shop has coffee beans of all kinds, as well as spices and hot sauces that'll add pazazz to any of your favorite dishes.”
The antique/vintage shopping in Frenchtown is some of the best around- make it out on the first weekend of the month for Secondhand Chic's monthly marketplace. This huge market has the best prices in town. Just down the street, Black Cat Antiques is another treasure chest. Antique toys as well as the ever-so-craved vintage pyrex dishes have been sighted regularly in this little antique shop. Frenchtown Antique Mall Collectibles is another great find.
FAST LANE CLASSIC CARS!
DISCOVER OUR COLLECTION OF CLASSIC CARS!
Come tour our campus for free or use our website to explore our classic cars today!
Fast Lane Classic Cars is an independent classic car dealer. We have a full inventory of classic cars to explore, so whether you’re looking for a muscle car, a classic truck, or a late model collector car, we have the vehicle you are looking for! We buy, sell, trade, and consign classic cars. Our expert services include automotive service, automotive detail, and automotive restoration. Our gift shop has automotive apparel, diecast cars, antiques, and memorabilia for every car lover!
WITHIN A 30 MINUTE RADIUS…..
Batter up! Rawlings Sporting Goods has opened a new immersive baseball experience at Westport Plaza in St. Louis.
The 14,000-square-foot Rawlings Experience features commemorative baseballs, a glove vault, a glove bar, batting cages and a pro room for player appearances – plus, fascinating memorabilia and archival objects.
“A lot of people don’t know that Rawlings’ world headquarters have been in St. Louis since its inception in 1887,” senior director of brand marketing Lindsey Naber says. “This is a unique way to put us on the map and carve out a special place for baseball fans from near and far.”
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or not, you’ll find something that sparks your interest at the Rawlings Experience.
One of the biggest draws is the glove vault, which holds Gold Glove Awards from the Rawlings Gold Glove Hall of Fame. The area is lined with lockers decked out with memorabilia from the players, alongside their awards. Imagine an ode to the history of the Gold Glove Award, which Rawlings – not Major League Baseball – created in 1957.
At the glove bar, players of all ages and abilities can work with a Rawlings master craftsperson to customize their gloves from beginning to end. “With different leathers, laces, welting, binding and more, they can craft their own creations,” Naber says. “They’ll get the same treatment as the pros.”
In the batting cages, athletes can swing various bats, and depending on how long it takes to find the right one, they could be there for hours! The space houses the entire line of Rawlings products, so you can shop for the game’s hottest equipment, as well.
If you’re more interested in the artifacts, don’t miss the timeline that marks the most important moments in the history of Rawlings Sporting Goods – and, of course, baseball. The exhibit spotlights the Bill Doak glove, which was the precursor of modern glove design. Rawlings has dabbled in other sports, including hockey, tennis and golf, and it developed the first pair of football shoulder pads, which will be on display, too.
Throughout the experience, you’ll also find fantastic photo opportunities with statues such as a 10-foot Gold Glove and a mega baseball that shows its inner layers.
Bookend your visit to the Rawlings Experience with a meal at Soda Fountain Express, a dressed-up diner offering grilled eats, old-time sweets and over-the-top treats, and a drink at 360 Westport, which boasts panoramic views, craft cocktails and elevated dishes in a swanky setting.
WHAT IS CITY MUSEUM?
Housed in an old shoe factory in Downtown St. Louis, City Museum is an ever-evolving, always-thrilling, artist-built playground full of weirdly wonderful spaces to explore. From a passion project to an indoor, outdoor, underground playground that welcomes adventurous visitors from all over, we had no idea what City Museum would become when we first opened our doors.
25
Years of weirdly wonderful fun
29K+
Artifacts from all over the world
600K
Square-feet of possibility
Museum history
With everything from a 10-story slide to an in-house circus to a 3,000-pound praying mantis perched on the roof, City Museum is one of the most weird and wonderful places to explore in St. Louis. Housed in the old International Shoe Warehouse building, City Museum was founded in 1997 and celebrated its 25th birthday in 2022. Although it was purchased in 2019 by Oklahoma City–based Premier Parks, it retains the DIY spirit of its late founder, Bob Cassilly, through its reliance on found materials and flotsam as key construction materials. Visitors who are ready to trade screen time and video games for a unique and active experience will always find something new to see or do at City Museum, says Jessica Hentoff, founder of Circus Harmony, an independent nonprofit social circus that operates inside City Museum. “People need and want to test their physical limits and not just use their thumbs, and City Museum is a place where you can use your whole body,” she says. “It’s a museum for doers.” Buy your tickets on line and get 10% off
and of course THE ARCH!
Tram Ride to the Top
Great monuments inspire you to explore new heights. Precious few take you there. The unique tram will lift you 630 feet up to the top of the tallest monument in the United States.
Virtual Reality Theater
Take a seat in our Virtual Reality Theater, put on a 3D headset and be transported to a 360° depiction of the St. Louis riverfront in the 1850s. You’ll be immersed in the sights and sounds of the bustling levee, and will learn the stories of some of the diverse people who crossed paths there.
ANHEUSER BUSCH BREWERY TOUR
Explore the Anheuser-Busch brewery and learn why our beer is second to none.
Take a closer look at our campus and brewing methods when you join us on the Day Fresh Tour! Packed with history and stunning views of the property, you’ll learn all about the life of an Anheuser-Busch beer from seed to sip: from its beginnings as quality ingredients, to its crisp taste as the finished product!
Why dream about meeting a Clydesdale? Make it a reality.
At Anheuser-Busch, we value our storied history. And with a legacy that transcends beer, we especially take pride in our World-Renowned Budweiser Clydesdales. Now, you can get up-close and personal.
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