St. Louis Civil War Tour

Day 1
The St. Louis area offers a wealth of historic places to visit. The first stop of the trip is the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, located in downtown St. Louis along the Mississippi riverfront. The memorial is comprised of the Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion and the Old Courthouse. Standing 630 feet tall, the Gateway Arch was built in 1965 as a tribute to the spirit of western pioneers. Beneath the Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion offers tours and interactive exhibits illustrating the people and events that shaped America in the 19th century. The Old Courthouse, two blocks west of the Arch, is filled with history. The Court heard the first trials of the Dred Scott case here in 1847 and 1850. The case eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court and the decision - Scott was not a citizen and had no cause to sue - took the nation one step closer to civil war. The courthouse displays three large dioramas presenting various events from America's past.

The next area to explore is Camp Jackson. Now the site of St. Louis University, the area once known as Lindell Grove was the campsite of the Missouri State Militia in May, 1861. On May 10, regular U.S. troops and specialty home guard units under the command of Nathaniel Lyon precipitated a confrontation here. The Camp Jackson incident was the first military action in the Civil War involving organized infantry.

Take a drive through Forest Park and visit the Missouri History Museum, home of the Missouri Historical Society. It contains an extensive research library covering western history. The museum holds a collection of Civil War weapons, but it is suggested that you call to find out if the collection is on display.

Day 2
In St. Louis, visitors will find two cemeteries of great interest. The graves of Civil War figures such as Sterling Price and Don Carlos Buell are in the Bellefontaine Cemetery; Calvary Cemetery, across the road, is the resting place of William T. Sherman, as well as Dred and Harriet Scott.

Later, travel to South County and the Jefferson Barracks Historical Park. Jefferson Barracks was a U.S. Army military post from 1826-1946. The museum buildings date back to the 1850s. The post was for many years the most important station on the frontier. As a consequence, more officers who would become generals of both armies served here before the Civil War than at any other place. The site is now a park operated by St. Louis County. The park contains exhibits, guided tours, educational programs and special events.

Near Jefferson Barracks lies the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. The cemetery surrounds the Old Post Cemetery, which predates the Civil War. Jefferson Barracks acted as a major medical facility during the Civil War, which accounts for the large number of Union burials.

Day 3
General Ulysses S. Grant called the St. Louis area home in the 1850s. Today, visitors can tour two sites that will take them back to Grant's day.

The first is the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. General Grant and his wife, Julia Dent Grant, made this area their first home after their marriage. The Grants owned the 650-acre property for four decades, but sold it months before General Grant's death. Visitors can explore the grounds that Ulysses S. Grant once called home. Visitors can sign up for a ranger-led tour, or may venture through the area using a self-guided tour.

Grant's farm is located south of the historic site and is owned and operated by Anheuser-Busch. The area acts as a wildlife preserve and historical attraction. A reconstructed log cabin that was built by Ulysses S. Grant lies on the property he once farmed.