In the Delmar Loop at 6555 Delmar Boulevard stands an eight-foot bronze of Chuck Berry, guitar slung high, frozen mid duck-walk. Sculpted by Harry Weber and dedicated on July 29, 2011, it sits across the street from Blueberry Hill, the club where Berry — a St. Louis native — played a standing monthly gig for years, well into his eighties. Berry was the first artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and lyrics from his anthems are set into the granite plaza around the statue. He died in 2017 at age 90; a memorial gathering filled the Loop. (Note: the statue went up in 2011, while Berry was still alive and still playing the club a few doors down.)

19.7 mi away

History of Belleville

The City Bigger Than London, Emptied Before Columbus RoadyGoat

1050

Around 1050 AD, on the Mississippi floodplain across the river from modern St. Louis, a settlement exploded, almost overnight, into a planned city of perhaps 20,000 people. Bigger than London at the time. We call it Cahokia. It had grand plazas, distinct neighborhoods, and more than a hundred earthen mounds, raised basket by basket, by hand, with no wheel and no draft animals. The largest, Monks Mound, covers a wider footprint at its base than the Great Pyramid of Giza. There was even a Woodhenge, a ring of tall cedar posts aligned to the sun; on the spring equinox, from its center, the sun rose directly over Monks Mound. People poured in from across the Mississippi valley within a single generation, drawn by something nobody can name for certain, maybe a religious movement. Then it unwound. By 1350 it was empty, and no city in what became America would match its size again until Philadelphia, more than four centuries later. Not Europeans, not smallpox. Perhaps drought, perhaps the great river's floods returning, perhaps political collapse or lost faith, perhaps all at once. We still don't really know.

10.3 mi away

The Gateway Arch RoadyGoat

1963

The Gateway Arch rises 630 feet over the Mississippi riverfront in St. Louis, the centerpiece of Gateway Arch National Park. It is exactly as wide as it is tall, 630 feet each way, clad in stainless steel and shaped as a weighted catenary, the curve a hanging chain makes when flipped upside down. Designed by architect Eero Saarinen, it is the tallest monument in the United States and the tallest stainless steel monument in the world. Construction ran from February 1963 to October 28, 1965, when the final keystone section was set, at a cost of about thirteen million dollars. A tram system inside each leg carries visitors to an observation deck at the top. It commemorates the westward expansion of the nation and Thomas Jefferson's role in it.

13.0 mi away

Cahokia Mounds

600

UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico, which at its peak around 1100 AD had a population rivaling contemporary London.

10.3 mi away

Gateway Arch

1963

The 630-foot stainless steel catenary arch on the St. Louis riverfront, designed by Eero Saarinen, commemorates the city's role as the gateway to the West.

13.0 mi away

Old Courthouse - Dred Scott Case

1846

The St. Louis courthouse where Dred Scott first filed suit for his freedom in 1846, a case that reached the Supreme Court and helped trigger the Civil War.

13.3 mi away

Anheuser-Busch Brewery

1852

The historic St. Louis brewery campus where Adolphus Busch pioneered pasteurized beer, refrigerated railcars, and built America's largest brewing company.

13.4 mi away

Scott Joplin House State Historic Site

1900

The St. Louis apartment where Scott Joplin composed several of his ragtime masterpieces, including The Entertainer, during the height of the ragtime era.

14.6 mi away

Union Station

1894

Once the largest and busiest train station in the world, this Romanesque Revival masterpiece handled over 100,000 passengers daily at its peak.

14.1 mi away

Things to Do in Belleville

historical 13.0 mi away

Gateway Arch

630 feet of gleaming stainless steel. The tallest man-made monument in the US.

quirky 14.1 mi away

City Museum

A surreal playground for adults built from salvaged city infrastructure. Caves slides and a school bus hanging off the roof.

food 17.0 mi away

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

St. Louis frozen custard so thick they serve it upside down since 1929.

quirky 10.7 mi away

World's Largest Catsup Bottle

A 170-foot water tower shaped like a Brooks ketchup bottle in Collinsville IL.

Everything Near Belleville

65 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

Belleville Historic District · 0.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Step back in time as you explore a neighborhood that whispers stories of Belleville's early days. This isn't just a collection of old houses; it's a window into the lives of the German immigrants who shaped this town.…
Blair Historic District · 3.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine Belleville's bustling commercial heart, shaped by one man's generosity. This is the Blair Historic District. Back in 1813, George Blair donated land that became the foundation of Belleville. Over the next…
Brooks Catsup Bottle water tower · 9.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Behold the World's Largest Catsup Bottle, a quirky roadside attraction that's been delighting visitors since 1949! It all started when the Brooks Foods plant needed a new water tower. Instead of a plain one, they…
Cahokia · 10.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine a city bigger than London, right here in Illinois, centuries before European settlers arrived. That was Cahokia, a thriving metropolis built by Native Americans.Around 1050 CE, Cahokia rose to prominence. It…
Cahokia Mounds · 10.3 mi · Historical Marker
UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico, which at its peak around 1100 AD had a population rivaling contemporary London.
The City Bigger Than London, Emptied Before Columbus · 10.3 mi
Around 1050 AD, on the Mississippi floodplain across the river from modern St. Louis, a settlement exploded, almost overnight, into a planned city of perhaps 20,000 people. Bigger than London at the time. We call it…
World's Largest Catsup Bottle · 10.7 mi · Things to Do
A 170-foot water tower shaped like a Brooks ketchup bottle in Collinsville IL.
Church of the Holy Family (Cahokia Heights, Illinois) · 11.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over for a second; you're looking at what's said to be the oldest continuously active Catholic parish in the entire United States. Back in 1699, French-Canadian missionaries established a mission here among the…
Broadview Hotel (East St. Louis, Illinois) · 12.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Once a glamorous hub in East St. Louis, the Broadview Hotel hosted countless travelers during its heyday. Constructed in 1927, the Broadview quickly became one of the finest hotels in the city. It was built in the…
Eads Bridge · 12.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Hold on tight, because right here you're looking at a game-changer! The Eads Bridge, stretching across the Mississippi, was a true feat of engineering. Completed in 1874, the bridge was named for its designer and…
USS Inaugural · 12.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wondered what it was like to clear deadly mines from the ocean? You're about to explore a genuine WWII minesweeper, the USS Inaugural! This ship was part of the Admirable class, the largest and most successful…
The Gateway Arch · 13.0 mi
The Gateway Arch rises 630 feet over the Mississippi riverfront in St. Louis, the centerpiece of Gateway Arch National Park. It is exactly as wide as it is tall, 630 feet each way, clad in stainless steel and shaped as…

Show all 65 nearby places

Gateway Arch · 13.0 mi · Historical Marker
The 630-foot stainless steel catenary arch on the St. Louis riverfront, designed by Eero Saarinen, commemorates the city's role as the gateway to the West.
Gateway Arch National Park · 13.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
You're approaching the spot that symbolizes a pivotal moment in American history: the westward expansion. This park, originally established in 1935, commemorates the Louisiana Purchase and the explorations that…
Emerald Mound and Village Site · 13.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine a bustling village here, centuries before European settlers arrived. This is the Emerald Mound and Village Site, a remnant of the Middle Mississippian culture, a satellite community of the larger Cahokia…
Eugene Field House (St. Louis) · 13.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over here for a minute. You're about to see the childhood home of a famous children's author, but more importantly, you're near the former home of Dred Scott's lawyer. Roswell Field, a prominent attorney, lived…
Laclede's Landing, St. Louis · 13.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wondered where St. Louis began? You're driving through it right now, on the very ground where a bustling river town was born! Walk these cobblestone streets and imagine life on the Mississippi River in the 18th…
Old Courthouse - Dred Scott Case · 13.3 mi · Historical Marker
The St. Louis courthouse where Dred Scott first filed suit for his freedom in 1846, a case that reached the Supreme Court and helped trigger the Civil War.
Old Courthouse (St. Louis) · 13.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Stand in the shadow of the Old Courthouse, where Dred Scott fought for his freedom, a landmark that played a pivotal role in the lead-up to the Civil War. This very building witnessed some of the most important legal…
Anheuser-Busch Brewery · 13.4 mi · Historical Marker
The historic St. Louis brewery campus where Adolphus Busch pioneered pasteurized beer, refrigerated railcars, and built America's largest brewing company.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery · 13.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Founded by a German immigrant in 1852, this brewery complex is a National Historic Landmark and a testament to American brewing history. Adolphus Busch, a German immigrant, joined Eberhard Anheuser's brewery in 1860.…
Wainwright Building · 13.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Prepare to witness a revolution in steel and stone! The Wainwright Building right here in St. Louis isn't just another old building; it's considered one of the very first true skyscrapers. Designed by the brilliant duo…
Mitchell Archaeological Site (Mitchell, Illinois) · 13.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine a bustling village here, centuries before European settlers. This is the Mitchell Archaeological Site, once the second-largest settlement in the Cahokia settlement system. Around 1150 to 1200, Mississippian…
Horseshoe Lake Mound and Village Site · 13.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine a bustling village here, centuries before any European set foot in Illinois. This is the Horseshoe Lake Mound and Village Site, once home to Mississippian peoples. Between roughly 600 and 1050 A.D., this village…
Orpheum Theater (St. Louis) · 13.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull up, because you're about to experience the grandeur of the Orpheum Theater, a Beaux Arts masterpiece that once hosted vaudeville legends! This magnificent theater, designed by architect Albert Lansburgh, was the…
St. Louis, MO · 13.7 mi · Local history
St. Louis, a city steeped in history from its French colonial roots to its pivotal role in westward expansion, still grapples with its legacy. For years, the north side of the city has faced economic hardship and…
Sugarloaf Mound · 13.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine a city once dotted with 40 Native American mounds, now only this one remains. Sugarloaf Mound is the last survivor of a culture that thrived here between 600 and 1300 AD. These people, part of the Mississippian…
Hotel Jefferson (St. Louis, Missouri) · 13.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Opened for the 1904 World's Fair, this hotel has hosted presidents and celebrities, witnessing a century of St. Louis history. When the Louisiana Purchase Exposition opened its gates in 1904, the grand Hotel Jefferson…
Seven-Up Headquarters · 13.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder where 7 Up got its fizz? You're driving right past the birthplace of one of America's most recognizable soft drinks! This very spot was the nerve center for the 7 Up company, a true landmark in beverage…
City Museum · 14.1 mi · Things to Do
A surreal playground for adults built from salvaged city infrastructure. Caves slides and a school bus hanging off the roof.
Union Station · 14.1 mi · Historical Marker
Once the largest and busiest train station in the world, this Romanesque Revival masterpiece handled over 100,000 passengers daily at its peak.
The Home of the Friendless · 14.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over for a moment, because right here you're passing a place that offered a lifeline to forgotten women in 19th-century St. Louis. This building, the Home of the Friendless, was acquired in 1853 by Charlotte…
Washington Avenue Historic District (St. Louis, Missouri) · 14.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Look around! You're driving through a testament to St. Louis's industrial might, now reimagined for today. These massive brick and stone buildings, dating from the late 19th century to the early 1920s, weren't always…
Ely Walker Lofts · 14.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Look up at that impressive building! This isn't just a stylish loft space today; it was once the powerhouse of a major dry goods company that shaped St. Louis. Back in 1857, David Davis Walker, great-grandfather to a…
St. Louis Union Station · 14.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Get ready to be wowed! This isn't just any building; St. Louis Union Station was once the biggest and busiest train station *in the world*. It opened in 1894, a monument to the Gilded Age. Imagine bustling platforms…
Scott Joplin House State Historic Site · 14.6 mi · Historical Marker
The St. Louis apartment where Scott Joplin composed several of his ragtime masterpieces, including The Entertainer, during the height of the ragtime era.
YWCA, Phillis Wheatley Branch · 14.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over for a moment, because you're about to pass a building that was a beacon of hope and opportunity for countless African American women in St. Louis. This is the Phillis Wheatley YWCA, established in 1911, and it…
Scott Joplin House State Historic Site · 14.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Right here, on Delmar Boulevard, the King of Ragtime once lived! Scott Joplin, the composer who brought syncopated rhythms to the world, called this house home from 1901 to 1903. Joplin was already famous when he moved…
Coca-Cola Syrup Plant · 15.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This is where the magic happened: the original Coca-Cola syrup was made here, fueling a global phenomenon. Look to your left! This unassuming building was once the beating heart of Coca-Cola’s early production. Starting…
Fox Theatre (St. Louis) · 15.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Prepare to be dazzled! The Fox Theatre isn't just a building; it's a time capsule of roaring twenties extravagance. Built by William Fox, the theater opened in 1929 as a movie palace. It was designed to showcase Fox…
Powell Hall · 15.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder what it takes to save a masterpiece? You're about to find out! This magnificent building, now Powell Hall, started life as the St. Louis Theatre in 1925. Imagine packed houses for live vaudeville acts and…
Negro Masonic Hall · 15.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder what secrets a seemingly ordinary building might hold? Up ahead, you're approaching a place that was once a cornerstone of African American Freemasonry in St. Louis. Originally built in 1886 as a commercial…
Bissell Street Water Tower · 15.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Look up! You're about to pass one of St. Louis's most distinctive historic landmarks, a silent sentinel to the city's growth. This is the Bissell Street Water Tower, completed in 1886, also known as the "New Red" tower.…
Tower Grove Park · 15.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over, you're about to discover a true urban oasis: Tower Grove Park, a 289-acre green masterpiece right in the heart of St. Louis! This incredible park, along with the nearby Missouri Botanical Garden, was once…
Grand Avenue Water Tower · 16.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Marvel at this towering structure, the oldest extant water tower in St. Louis, a symbol of the city's industrial past. It's the Grand Avenue Water Tower. Back in 1871, St. Louis was growing rapidly, and needed a better…
Jefferson Barracks Military Post · 16.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This unassuming spot along the Mississippi River was once a crucial launchpad for America's westward expansion. From 1826 to 1946, Jefferson Barracks served as a primary training and deployment center for the U.S. Army.…
Missouri Botanical Garden · 16.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over for a minute and imagine a time when St. Louis was a bustling frontier town and one man dreamed of creating a green oasis. That man was Henry Shaw, and this is his legacy, the Missouri Botanical Garden. Shaw,…
Missouri Botanical Garden · 16.2 mi · Historical Marker
Henry Shaw arrived in St. Louis from England in 1819 at age nineteen and made a fortune selling hardware to settlers heading west. He retired at forty and decided to build a botanical garden. He consulted with the…
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery · 16.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Stand on this hallowed ground and remember generations of service. Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery began as a military post cemetery in 1826. After the Civil War, in 1866, the United States government formalized a…
Kate Chopin House (St. Louis, Missouri) · 16.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wondered where a literary firebrand penned her most controversial work? You're driving right past it! This unassuming house on McPherson Avenue was once home to Kate Chopin, the audacious author who dared to…
Chuck Berry House · 16.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Right here, at 3137 Whittier Street, rock and roll history was written. This unassuming house was home to the legendary Chuck Berry during the peak of his creative output. From the mid-1950s to the early 1960s, Berry…
Shelley v. Kraemer House · 16.7 mi · Historical Marker
The St. Louis home at the center of the 1948 Supreme Court case Shelley v. Kraemer, which struck down racially restrictive housing covenants nationwide.
St. Louis Colored Orphans Home · 16.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over here! You're looking at a beacon of hope for Black children in St. Louis for over a century. Born from the struggles of the post-Civil War era, the St. Louis Colored Orphans Home opened its doors in 1888. It…
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard · 17.0 mi · Things to Do
St. Louis frozen custard so thick they serve it upside down since 1929.
Simmons Colored School · 17.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over here and take a moment to consider the profound impact this unassuming building had on generations. This school provided education to African American children during segregation, offering a crucial glimpse…
Wainwright Tomb · 17.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This isn't just a tomb; it's a profound statement on love, loss, and the eternal. You're approaching the Wainwright Tomb, a masterpiece of funerary art designed by the legendary architect Louis Sullivan. It was built in…
Joseph Erlanger House · 17.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wondered how we understand every tingle and twitch in our bodies? You're driving past the home of a man who helped unlock that mystery! This house, at 5127 Waterman Boulevard, was where Nobel Prize winner Joseph…
Jewel Box (St. Louis) · 17.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wished you could step into a giant, sparkling jewel? Well, get ready, because you're about to! This isn't just any greenhouse; it's an Art Deco masterpiece, glowing with floral beauty. Back in the 1930s, St. Louis…
Forest Park - 1904 World's Fair Site · 18.1 mi · Historical Marker
The 1904 World's Fair transformed 1,270 acres of Forest Park into a temporary wonderland that nearly 20 million people visited over seven months. The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, as it was officially called,…
Bellefontaine Cemetery · 18.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Step inside a Victorian-era vision of beauty and eternal rest. Bellefontaine Cemetery, founded in 1849, wasn't just a place to bury the dead; it was designed as a peaceful, park-like setting, a 'rural cemetery' intended…
Washington University in St. Louis · 19.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder how a world-renowned university got its start in the heart of Missouri? You're approaching Washington University in St. Louis, affectionately known as WashU, a place that started with an idea to educate a…
LeClaire Historic District · 19.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever heard of a factory town designed with worker happiness in mind? That's Leclaire, right here in Edwardsville. N. O. Nelson, owner of the Nelson Manufacturing Company, founded Leclaire between 1890 and 1895. He…
Chuck Berry's Duck-Walk Statue · 19.7 mi
In the Delmar Loop at 6555 Delmar Boulevard stands an eight-foot bronze of Chuck Berry, guitar slung high, frozen mid duck-walk. Sculpted by Harry Weber and dedicated on July 29, 2011, it sits across the street from…
Washington University Hilltop Campus Historic District · 19.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over! You're about to drive past a place that hosted a truly unique double feature in history: both the 1904 World's Fair AND the 1904 Summer Olympics! Talk about a busy campus. This is the historic Hilltop Campus…
Benjamin Stephenson House · 19.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over here for a peek into the life of a man who helped shape Illinois! This is the Benjamin Stephenson House, built around 1820 for a prominent local figure. Benjamin Stephenson was a key player in early Illinois…

Explore Belleville on the Map

All music from Illinois → Find another town Vote on city songs

Belleville, Illinois

Music in Belleville

Songs About Belleville

Artists From Belleville

Rivers & Roads in Song near Belleville

Musical Heritage

Chuck Berry's Duck-Walk Statue RoadyGoat

History of Belleville

The City Bigger Than London, Emptied Before Columbus RoadyGoat

The Gateway Arch RoadyGoat

Cahokia Mounds

Gateway Arch

Old Courthouse - Dred Scott Case

Anheuser-Busch Brewery

Scott Joplin House State Historic Site

Union Station

Things to Do in Belleville

Everything Near Belleville

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