Guess what's 130 years old?  St Louis's own Forest Park!  While most people think Forest Park was created for the 1904 World's Fair (officially the Louisiana Purchase Exposition), the Park actually existed long before that.

The original plan for the park was rejected by the voters in St Louis in 1864, but 10 years later, in 1874 legislation was passed to create 3 parks in St Louis - O'Fallon Park, Carondelet Park and Forest Park.  It took 2 more years before Forest Park was completed and opened to the public.  It hasn't closed since!  With lots of water from the River DesPeres, lakes, and streams (both man-made and natural) the park has been  a haven for wildlife and plant life along with the citizens of St Louis.  The original plans for the park gave it's size as 1,371.75 acres.  The park contains a golf course, the St Louis Art Museum (in one of the buildings left from the 1904 World's Fair), sports fields, the Planetarium, the Zoo, the Jewel Box, the Municipal Opera (which has live outside performances during the summer), The History Museum, bandstands, picnic stands, and much much more.  The Science Museum (a fabulous hands on, fun place to go) is located outside the park, but is connected via an overpass bridge to the Planetarium inside the park.  You'll find our Omnimax theater inside the Science Museum.

Most of the attractions located in the park are free or have a nominal admission charge.  This is because the residents of both St Louis City and St Louis County tax themselves to support the Park, along with many volunteer organizations that raise money for it.

Some of the "fun" things about Forest Park include watching for the Planetarium to be wrapped with a huge bow for the winter holidays.  Originally done as a college prank, it was such a hit with the citizens that it's been wrapped for the holiday's since.  Sledding on the hills inside the park when it snows.  The annual hot air balloon races.  The outside shakespeare theater in the summer.  Boating, golfing, watching the local sports groups.  Family reunions abound.  Taking the children through the ZOO and riding the railroad train through the ZOO, such fun!

A St Louis tradition is going to Forest Park to watch the submarine races.  You didn't know about those??  Well, let me explain.  First you need to ask your favorite person out on a date, then you need a nice blanket and a picnic basket full of treats.  Next you go to Art Hill and find a great spot overlooking the Grand Basin Lake with the Art Museum behind you, and the Lake in front of you to settle down to watch the races.  But wait, when submarines race, they do it under the water so it's a bit difficult to watch!   ...  What to do?? Hmmm, guess we'll have to find something to do on this wonderful afternoon picnicing in the park with our sweetie while we wait to see who wins the races.  I'll let you take it from there.

Seriously, Forest Park is one of the City's greatest treasures.  Come visit and plan to spend some time enjoying this great park!

I had a GREAT time recently at the Butterfly House at Faust Park.  They held a reception for people who had donated a paving stone in front of the building.  The butterfly house is always a wonderful place to go.  This time there seemed to be even more butterflies flittering around then the last time I was there.  One particular butterfly was hitching a ride on a gentleman's head.  The man had walked all the way through the butterfly house - the butterfly would periodically flit off only to come back right away.  The gentleman kept saying that his student's wouldn't believe him when he told them about it on Monday, so I whipped out my camera phone and took several pictures then emailed them to him.  That got me started, by the time I was done, I had a camera full of butterfly pictures.  When I get a chance I'm going to upload them to my website at www. YourSTLHome.com (it will probably be a week or two before I get that far though).

If you go to the Butterfly House, make sure to wear layered clothing - it's hot and humid in the house, so unless you go on a hot summer day, you will typically need to "shed" some clothes as you walk around.

The butterfly house is located in Faust Park in Chesterfield.  The park also holds the home of the 2nd governor of the State of Missouri (Gov Faust for whom the park is named), a historical village where re-enactments take place on Summer weekends, a working antique carousel, concerts in the park in the summer and much more!  It's a grand place to visit.