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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

A View From the Top

HERE ARE PHOTOS taken from the top of the old South Side National Bank building, located on the corner of Grand and Gravois Avenues in Saint Louis, Missouri.

View from the top of the old South Side National Bank Tower, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - view of downtown to the northwest

Looking northeast up Gravois Avenue to downtown.  The Gateway Arch is about four miles away.

The South Side National Bank building is an Art Deco gem, dating from 1928, and has recently been redeveloped into condominiums and renamed the South Side Tower. It is 108 feet tall, and I completely neglected to take a picture of the building itself! My thanks to Leigh Maibes, Realtor, who represents this property and kindly gave me permission to photograph from here. I met Leigh while visiting another of her properties, the Sugarloaf Indian Mound.

View from the top of the old South Side National Bank Tower, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - Saint Francis de Sales Oratory

Saint Francis de Sales Oratory, built in 1908, about 1-¼ miles to the northeast.

View from the top of the old South Side National Bank Tower, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - Saint Anthony of Padua Church

⅞ of a mile southeast of the tower is Saint Anthony of Padua Church, completed in 1910, and home of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans of the Sacred Heart Province of Saint Louis and Chicago).  The ridge behind the church is in Illinois, and you can see a bit of the Mississippi River to the left of the church.

View from the top of the old South Side National Bank Tower, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - Jefferson Barracks Bridge over the Mississippi River

The Jefferson Barracks Bridge (constructed 1983-1992), crossing the Mississippi River between Illinois on the left and Missouri on the right. It is located 7-½ miles south of the tower. The bridge is named after the Jefferson Barracks military post, active 1826-1946, and the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

View from the top of the old South Side National Bank Tower, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - view to the north at sunset

It was a cold, windy, cloudy day, not promising for colorful photography. But sunset was glorious!

For those interested in digital photography, this and the next six photos were taken with the camera white balance fixed to 'Daylight'.  Cameras set to automatic white balance will usually attempt to subtract out these colors, making photos taken during this time of day sometimes disappointing.

View from the top of the old South Side National Bank Tower, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - a glorious sunset

Sunset is the traditional time of day to pray Vespers, which has the character of thanksgiving.

View from the top of the old South Side National Bank Tower, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - view up Grand Avenue

Looking north up Grand Avenue, with Saint Pope Pius V Church (dating from 1916), four blocks north of the tower.

View from the top of the old South Side National Bank Tower, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - view up Grand Avenue with Saint Louis University

Zooming up Grand Avenue, we see the Saint Louis University medical complex, about 2 miles away.   On the right is the Compton Hill Water Tower:  photos taken from this tower are here and here.

I used two separate cameras for this photo essay, and there is some inconsistency on how these cameras represent color.

View from the top of the old South Side National Bank Tower, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - view of downtown at sunset

Looking again up Gravois towards downtown; salmon skies illumine the buildings.

View from the top of the old South Side National Bank Tower, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - Saint Francis de Sales Oratory at dusk

The Oratory and downtown, with electric lighting.

View from the top of the old South Side National Bank Tower, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - Anheuser-Busch brewery at dusk

Night falls on the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, 1-⅔ miles to the east.

View from the top of the old South Side National Bank Tower, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - view of downtown at dusk with moonrise

The moon rises.  These photos were taken on November 13th, 2008, between 4:41 p.m. and 5:12 p.m.

Click here for a map of the building and landmarks.

6 comments:

  1. Thank you, Mark -- best photos I've seen of the city.

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  2. They turned out so well! I will let you up there anytime if I cn look at more cool photos. Simply gorgeous.

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  3. Mark I am wondering if you are familiar with the former Missouri Pacific Hospital building? Do you have any photos, is it still standing? Also what now occupies the land where the "Highlands" once stood?

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  4. The MoPac Hospital is now the Anheuser-Busch Eye Institute. The Highlands are now an office park.

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