Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (March 13, 2000)

This was our first trip, so we didn't really take any silly pics. We were up visiting my uncle in my adopted hometown of St. Louis (born in Tallahassee, but moved to St. Lois when I was a year old). It was on this trip that I first saw the Passport to Your National Parks book (right). The pic above is actually up on the observation deck overlooking the Mississippi River, the Illinois side (East St. Louis) and the whole downtown St. Louis area.







Here's a great shot of the Gateway Arch from the ground with Kevin and also from above. The actual museum is underground between the Arch's legs. The coolest part is you go up in these little eggs with about 5 other people to the top (not the best plan for those of you who're more claustrophobic or more accident prone than I...I cracked my head 3 times on the curve wall behind me when I misjudged and leaned back!).









This shot really shows you how big these legs actually ARE...and this is only one SIDE! The legs are basically triangular, so you've got three sides a lot like this one.

On our NEXT trip...

...we find there is little separation between church and thrill ride in San Antonio.