I wish the historic buildings that used to stand here were still here, but since they're not, we have to come up with some sort of solution to fill the void.
I think the City Garden is a great example of where well planned and executed design can add a lot to a downtown. We must keep it properly funded, though.
The Mertz Cabin above is an early example of a log cabin the Chesterfield area; while log cabins may seem primitive, in reality they required a fair amount of ingenuity.
Above is the Davis House, where my parents' good friend Laurain David lived for many years until she passed away at the age of 90 several years ago. She told my parents tales of when all the roads in West County were gravel, a surprisingly short amount of time ago. Her house dates from the 1840's and was moved from across Olive Street Road to the park. Laurain never like the color the park had painted it; it was always white when she lived in it. The sunflowers below are not nearly as tall as mine, but they have bigger blooms. 
Everyone loves barns, and the Sellenriek and Schlueter Barns are great examples of the all-important structure in agriculture.
I still find the occasional barn scattered here and there throughout West County, and they are increasingly becoming a rare commodity as they succumb to old age and disrepair.
Who says Chesterfield has no history?! Faust Park, in the St. Louis County Parks system, has assembled a coterie of some of the most significant and interesting houses from West County, primarily from the Chesterfield area. The Conway House, seen above and below, is a great example of an early 19th Century farmhouse, complete with authentic garden plantings around the yard.
The Warmbrodt Summer Kitchen has been added to the Conway House complex and painted to match. A common myth is that the kitchen was separate to prevent fires. In reality, it was to keep the heat of the kitchen away from the house in the summer. In the winter, the heat was welcomed into the house.
The Hoch House, seen below, is a perfect example of German brick construction, at home as much in the county as in the inner neighborhoods of St. Louis. The Hochs owned a local brick business and general store.
Finally the Alt Schoolhouse is a nice example of an early school off of Reinke Road originally.
Ever wonder what that majestic bridge stretching over South Broadway in Carondelet is for? It is one section of what was to be a glorious "Kingshighway System" of dramatic boulevards that stretched around the entire city, before the interstate highway system put such plans to rest. Small portions of the entire parkway system were actually built, such as Christy Blvd and Bellerive Blvd in Carondelet.
At the terminus of Bellerive Blvd is an amazing Renaissance Revival pavilion that overlooks the Mississippi River from high above on the bluffs.
Looking south, you can just see the Jefferson Barracks Bridge, miles to the south.
Looking to the north, you can see the Cahokia Power Plant in the distance, as well as much of downtown.
Next is the view looking north up Grand Blvd towards St. Louis's second downtown, Grand Center, with the North Side stretching off in the distance.
Looking northwest, we see Dogtown as well as St. Louis's third downtown, Clayton, as well as I-44.
Looking southwest, the St. Louis State Mental Hospital, in serene, 19th isolation, sits on a hilltop in St. Louis Hills.
Looking southeast, St. Francis de Sales and the Budweiser Brewery dominate the skyline of the Near South Side.
And finally, the six smokestacks of the Cahokia Power Station loom across the river at Soulard.
One thing that is really striking is how green St. Louis is; the tree cover provides a valuable, if often overlooked component to the urban experience.
