Publisher's Synopsis
Unpredictable. Unbelievable. And downright bizarre. Everything you ever need to know about St. Louis - and frankly a lot of things you don't - are captured in this surprising, photo-rich and fun-filled extravaganza! Strange-but-true facts and figures have dominated the St. Louis landscape and marked its colorful history, from the time the first fur was traded in 1764 to the day a new soccer stadium opened in 2023. The facts will amaze and the stories will astound - from shark attacks to ballpark burials, from devastating fires to eye-popping discoveries. Logic goes out the window, minds get blown and imaginations run wild. The highlights include: --The ashes of an Enos Slaughter fan was buried in right field at old Sportsman's Park --The sinking of the steamboat Sultana in the Mississippi River in 1865 remains the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history --Stan "The Man" Musial once became Stan "The Pitcher" Musial --Legend has it a ghost is still hitch-hiking outside Calvary Cemetery --The world's largest pair of underwear briefs is on display - with a number of other wacky attractions - at City Museum --A St. Louis hotel is where actor Cary Grant invented the practice of leaving a mint on the pillow --The World's Largest Chess Piece greets players and visitors at the World Chess Hall of Fame. Make no mistake, the eclectic collection of pictures and stories contained in these pages will take you on a light and loopy ride through fascinating history, and introduce you to the people, places and things that distinguish this town as one of the most unique cities in the nation. You will be proud of St. Louis, perplexed by St. Louis, and thoroughly entertained.
