The first Olympic Games host city outside of Europe, St. Louis also hosted the World's Fair the same year, 1904. Worlds Fair Pavilion still stands today. But more recognizable is St. Louis's landmark Gateway Arch, soaring 192 m/ 630 ft up and marking the westward expansion that launched from the city in the 19th century.

St. Louis was founded in 1764 as a fur trading post and named for French King Louis IX. Today, the city near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers trades in goods and services ranging from beer to bioscience.

Direct flights from more than 50 U.S. cities are available to Lambert International Airport. There is also non-stop service to Toronto, Cancun, Montego Bay, Punta Cana, and Reykjavik.