Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on
bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Weird Missouri
by James Strait
Part of an award-winning series, Weird Missouri introduces tourists to the off-the-beaten path destinations, including ghostly sites and peculiar roadside attractions, as well as local legends and crazy characters. Heavily illustrated.
Images of America: Missouri Botanical Garden
by Todd E. Styles
One of St. Louis’ premier attractions, the Missouri Botanical Garden is world-renowned for its science, conservation, education and horticulture display, thanks to the help of some of the most famous botanists of all time. An illustrated overview of the garden’s history and legacy.
St. Louis: The 1904 World's Fair
by Mike Truax, Joe Sonderman
In 1904, millions of people traveled to St. Louis to visit the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, a world’s fair that introduced some of the latest inventions. Visitors saw electric lights, aircraft, automobiles and moving pictures -- many for the first time! Through historic photos, this Images of America collection revisits the wonder and grandeur of the seven months of the St. Louis World’s Fair.
The Gateway Arch: A Biography
by Tracy Campbell
A St. Louis icon and a stunning memorial to westward expansion, the Arch triumphantly rises 630 feet over the city and attracts millions of tourist every year. Campbell reveals the history of the monument, dispelling myths and shining new light on the origins and meaning of the Arch.
Hidden History of Downtown St. Louis
by Ma Company (Tanzania), Thomas P. Kavanaugh
A short, fascinating history of the hidden heritage of St. Louis, including the limestone cave-origins of Anheuser-Busch, the workplace of a young Tennessee Williams and a vibrant blues scene.
Historic Photos of the Gateway Arch
by NiNi Harris
Harris tells the story of the Gateway Arch through this collection of historic photos. The Arch, which stands 630 feet and spans 630 feet, is awe-inspiring in its simplicity, scale and elegance.
Capturing the City: Photographs from the Streets of St. Louis, 1900 to 1930.
by Joseph Heathcott
Uniquely, the St. Louis Street Department spent the first decades of the 20thcentury taking photographs of the city to document municipal challenges and improvements but ultimately generated an invaluable collection that depicted everyday life in the city. Take a tour through these 30 years in this illustrated time capsule.
St. Louis Parks
by Marilynne Bradley, Eisley Hamilton
Through color photos and historical context, Harris and Hamilton introduce readers to the best parks in St. Louis, beginning with the establishment of Lafayette Park in 1836 to the popular, expansive Forest Park and everything in between.
Moon Handbook St. Louis
by Brooke S. Foster
A no-nonsense practical guide in the Moon series, jam-packed not only with travel necessities (hotels, restaurants, sights), but also with a good overview of history, flora and fauna and geology.
Missouri Off the Beaten Path
by Patti DeLano
A fun series that introduces travelers (and locals!) to sites they’d want to see if they knew about them. The guide covers local dining, hidden attractions, unusual locales and quirky cultural tidbits.
Remembering the Gateway Arch
by NiNi Harris
A triumphant icon of St. Louis, Missouri, the arch commemorates the city as the Gateway to the West. Harris uses historic images to supplement her narrative about the design and construction of the arch, from the clearing of the site to the insertion of the keystone.
Downtown St. Louis
by Don Korte, NiNi Harris
Follow the evolution of downtown St. Louise from the French colonial days to the advent of millennials and 21st century loft through gorgeous photos that depict all these transformations.