Downtown West in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Did You Know?

St. Louis Union Station

Photographed by Thomas Smith, March 24, 2023

1. Did You Know? Marker

Inscription.
The trainshed above you was built using Pegram trusses, which are most frequently seen in bridge construction. This truss style was patented by engineer George H. Pegram, a graduate of St. Louis' Washington University.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 38° 37.664′ N, 90° 12.494′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Downtown West. It can be reached from the intersection of South 18th Street and Market Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located on the grounds of St. Louis Union Station near the outdoor attractions. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 S 18th St, Saint Louis MO 63103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Did You Know? (a few steps from this marker); Ice Cream Cones (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Drury Inn (about 500 feet away); Union Station (about 600 feet away); Build-A-Bear Foundati❤️n (about 700 feet away); Aloe Plaza (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brett Hull (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bernie Federko (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.

Also see . . .

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St. Louis Union Station (official website). The Union Station opened in 1894, and at one time was the busiest and largest train station in the world. It has had lots of history, including the moment where Harry S. Truman held up the "Dewey Defeats Truman" newspaper. Passenger service for trains ended in the 1970s, and the station was revamped to a shopping mall in the 1980s. In 2019, the mall area became the St. Louis Aquarium and other attractions - including the St. Louis Wheel- were later added to become an entertainment complex. (Submitted on November 16, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Jason Voigt, November 7, 2025

2. Did You Know? Marker

Photographed by Jason Voigt, November 7, 2025

3. Did You Know? Marker

An upwards view of the trainshed

Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2023, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 197 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 28, 2023, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. 2, 3. submitted on November 16, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.