Students Explore Own Backyard on Saint Louis Field Trip

Riley Gibbons

March 27, 2025

History teachers Julie Decaro and Melody Barger run through the itinerary for the day with the students on the bus. "We want to expose our students to all of the awesome attractions and culture that the city of Saint Louis has to offer," Decaro said. "Our city gets a bad rap because it seems like mostly only negative things get reported, but there's really such amazing things about the city. And I feel like you guys need to be exposed to it."
Students walk under the Eads Bridge, the first bridge to carry railroad tracks in St. Louis. It is a national historic landmark, and is next to the MLK Bridge and was one of the first stops of the tour.
Students head to the Gateway Arch, the second stop of the tour. "I actually do want to be exposed more to Saint Louis. I feel like I don't come down to this part of Saint Louis a lot, and I feel like I need to with my friends, with my family, and just get out more instead of having the same, routine and cycle every day," junior Sydney Turner said.
Junior Jeremiah Gross walks to the Museum under the Gateway Arch National Park. "I love the view, and I like that I can see my city here," Gross said. "I haven't really seen this much and gotten a great view of it because I'm from here, but I don't really get to come here and actually view it with my own eyes. But it feels good to."
Education Specialist Diane Weber talks a little bit about the importance of the museum under teh Arch. "The Arch itself is so iconic, such an important part of the community. I think it's important to come here and hear the stories which the monument memorializes," Weber said. "So many people just think it's a great monument, but it really is here to help people remember the stories that were a very important part of Saint Louis and the growing of our country, both the good side and the bad side."
Students take pictures in the Colonial St. Louis section of the Arch Museum. "I chose to go on the field trip because I heard it was really fun, and I heard of all the places we go to. Some places I haven't been to; some places I have, but never a deep dive," junior Felipe Toledo Arisa said. "I never really went inside the museum. I've always only just gone up the Arch and then went right home. And it's just more to have an experience with other people than just my family."
A group of students takes a picture in front of the Gateway Arch, in the Gateway Arch National Park. The Old Courthouse is located right across the way.
The Old Courthouse, located across the street from the Gateway Arch. The courthouse is currently closed for renovations. The first two trials of the Dred Scott case took place here, in 1847 and 1850.
Students explore the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, or the "New Cathedral". "[Where was your favorite place you went?], That's probably the church. Seeing all the breathtaking architecture plus the gold. Everything is in gold. It's very vibrant." senior Edward Paul said. "It's also a place of peace. So it let me take time to step back and just contemplate. It's a really cool place."
K-12 Program coordinator for Missouri Historical Society, Emily Koeltzow, informs the students of what the St. Louis History Museum has to offer. "I think this is an important place to come because the lessons we learn from history inform what's happening today and how we can build a better future," Koeltzow said. "There are a lot of things that are happening in our world and in our city today that have happened already in the past."
Students take a look at and explore at the St. Louis History Museums 1904 World's Fair exhibit. "I think the 1904 World's Fair represents for Saint Louis, in many ways, the best we've ever been, and in other ways, the worst we've ever been. The World's Fair is a story of Saint Louis at its pinnacle. We've never quite achieved the heights that we did with this. It to me is a story of unrealized promise," Koeltzow stated. "I think people in St. Louis thought this was gonna be the moment when we stepped out onto the world stage, and St. Louis was gonna be a world class destination. It's been kind of a slow slide into obscurity ever since then. I think there's a lot of lessons to be learned from this."
Art Hill, one of the many historical sites pointed out by Barger, as the students toured the city by bus as well as on foot. Art Hill, along with the Jewel Box, another important attraction in Forest Park, was one of the last sites the students drove by as they made their way to The City Foundry for lunch to end the day.

About the Contributor

Riley Gibbons

My name is Riley Gibbons. I am a Senior. I enjoy writing, singing and producing my own music outside of school, along with performing with my rock band. I am excited to be back in Newspaper this year!

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Students Explore Own Backyard on Saint Louis Field Trip

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