There are countless buildings in St. Louis to tour in the city, but here’s a top 5 list of the notorious St. Louis favorites. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for these structures the next time you’re in that wild town known as St. Louis!

1. The Gateway Arch at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

This structure in downtown Riverfront in St. Louis is probably the most iconic and recognizable structure in St. Louis. Architect Eero Saarinen & Associates were responsible for building the structure in 1965, and it still has a great tourist draw today. The people of St. Louis have a lot of pride for this structure, and when you visit it, you’ll know why.

2. The Old Cathedral of St. Louis (Basilica of St. Louis, King of France)

This stunning cathedral, built by Joseph C. Laveille and George Morton is the oldest cathedral west of the Mississippi, and stands on privately owned land in the Memorial expansion area. The site was reserved for church construction in 1764, but the current cathedral is the fourth church to be built on the site. If only they could make up their minds already!

3. The Old Courthouse

This great old courthouse takes up an entire block of St. Louis and is located on Broadway and Chestnut, as well as Market and 4th street. This historic building is credited to the following architects: Henry Singleton, Robert S. Mitchell, and William Rumbold. This great building is a predecessor to the US capital building dome in Washington during the Civil War. This old courthouse was the epicenter for the Dred Scott case. The verdict was a medium for the Civic War in the US.

4. Wainwright Building

The famous Wainwright Building is located at 709 Chestnut Street. Architects Adler & Sullivan are the masterminds, with renovations by others. The Wainwright Building is known as the first American skyscraper, which puts it in the book of legends in American architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “The Wainwright is a monument to the first perception of the tall building as a harmonious unit – its height triumphant.” The building was purchased by the state of Missouri in 1981, and unfortunately the building is no longer open to the public, except the lobby. But luckily, you can still see the faade from outside.

5. The Old Post Office, St. Louis

The Old Post Office encompasses Olive, Locust, Eights and Ninth Streets. The architecture can be credited to Alfred B. Mullet, with restoration projects commissioned by other architects. This historic building was originally built to be a federal court and customs house, but is currently houses a nice restaurant, library, as well as some corporations. It has a stunning fortress-likes granite exterior.

St. Louis has 5 exceptional buildings, but there is one structure in particular that should be noted. This is Thomas P. Barnett’s great Spanish Mission style building. It is definitely a sight to see with its Art Deco influence. It is located at 3207 Washington Ave.

T.P. Barnett is the son of George I. Barnett who was another celebrated architect in St. Louis. The T.P. Barnett building is a very appealing building as it is deemed to be a unique structure in the Grand Center region of St. Louis, with its Art Deco influences. You should surely take a moment to stopover to this location the next time you’re in St. Louis. This Spanish Revival building on Washington Avenue is well worth it.