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St. Louis Plaza and Grand Basin |
| It has been remarked that at previous expositions there were but two or
three good views, while the Louisiana Purchase Exposition has
hundreds. Of these the prospect from Festival Hall over the Grand
Basin ranks easily among the first. Here one has the glorious
stretch of water, with its surface gently rippled by passing gondolas and
launches, and all the way down the lagoon and along the Plaza of St. Louis
are rows of transplanted maple trees, affording shade and the color of
verdure. To the right lies the stately Palace of Education, with the
Manufactures Palace beyond it. To the left, crowned by figures
holding aloft golden stars, is Electricity Palace, and further along the
Palace of Varied Industries. Fronting the Grand Basin is the tall
Louisiana Purchase Monument, torched with gold. On beyond is the
broad Plaza, with level space for multitudes. At right and left are
band-stands and statuary, an in the center line is the heroic figure of
King Louis IX of France, the great Crusader and patron saint of the City
of St. Louis. In the far distance are the Tyrolean Alps, a fitting
background. At sunset is perhaps the best time to see this view,
when the dying lights soften and mellow every object. Then the view
is enchanting. A little later, when the myriad lights show forth,
and the cascades play, it is entrancing.
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