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

Aloe Plaza

The Meeting of the Waters

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 21, 2012

1. Aloe Plaza Marker

Inscription.
This fountain by the sculptor Carl Milles symbolizes the union of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers · The two central figures represent the two great rivers while the lesser water creatures suggest the many tributaries and streams · Milles conceived the sculpture as embodiment of the freedom and primeval force of the waterways of the Great Mississippi Valley and he thought of the grouping as a marriage or festival celebrating the coming together of these great waters · The sculptor, Swedish born and a pupil of Rodin, was conscious that the fountain and plaza are a memorial to Louis P. Aloe (1869-1929) a civic figure and long time president of the Board of Alderman whose vision established the Gateway Mall.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Government & Politics • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 38° 37.803′ N, 90° 12.459′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Downtown West. Marker is on Market Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1820 Market Street, Saint Louis MO 63103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Union Station (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Did You Know? (about 800 feet away);

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a different marker also named Did You Know? (approx. 0.2 miles away); Drury Inn (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lambert-Deacon-Hull Printing Company Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Golden Lane (approx. ¼ mile away); Site of the first Washington University Campus (approx. 0.3 miles away); Packard Building (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.

Also see . . .
1. Aloe Plaza, St. Louis MO. (Submitted on December 29, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Carl Milles' Meeting of the Waters in Aloe Plaza. (Submitted on December 29, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. The Meeting of the Waters at Aloe Plaza (YouTube). (Submitted on December 29, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 21, 2012

2. Aloe Plaza Marker

At left center of photo, beyond the fountain and sculpture

The Meeting of the Waters Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 21, 2012

3. The Meeting of the Waters Sculpture

Union Station in background

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 21, 2012

4. The Meeting of the Waters Sculpture

Fountain in front of Union Station, St. Louis, Missouri image. Click for full size.

Photographed By John Vachon, 1940

5. Fountain in front of Union Station, St. Louis, Missouri

This photo, from the Library of Congress' Farm Security Administration/Office of Wartime Information Collection, shows the Meeting of the Waters fountain sometime shortly after it was unveiled on May 11, 1940.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 29, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 679 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 29, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on December 29, 2012.