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
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. It 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.
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: Union Station (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Did You Know?
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Aloe Plaza, St. Louis MO. (Submitted on December 29, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Carl Milles' Meeting of the Waters in Aloe Plaza. (Submitted on December 29, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. The Meeting of the Waters at Aloe Plaza (YouTube). (Submitted on December 29, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., January 21, 2012
2. Aloe Plaza Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., January 21, 2012
3. The Meeting of the Waters Sculpture
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., January 21, 2012
4. The Meeting of the Waters Sculpture
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 Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,017 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 29, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 5. submitted on December 29, 2012.
