No, there were no pyramids in St. Louis, Missouri. While the region was inhabited by various Native American cultures for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans, none of these cultures built pyramids.
The idea of pyramids in St. Louis may stem from a misconception about the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, located in nearby Collinsville, Illinois. While this site does contain several large earthen mounds, including the famous Monk’s Mound, these structures are not pyramids.
Pyramids are a type of monumental architecture that are typically associated with ancient Egyptian and Mesoamerican cultures. They are characterized by their steep, triangular sides and flat tops, and were used for a variety of purposes, including religious ceremonies, burials, and as tombs for royalty.
The mounds at Cahokia, on the other hand, are earthen structures that were built by the Mississippian culture, which flourished between around 800 and 1600 AD. While some of these mounds were likely used for ceremonial purposes, they were not used as tombs or as the focal point of a religious complex in the same way that pyramids were.
Monk’s Mound, the largest mound at Cahokia, is a rectangular earthen structure that rises to a height of 100 feet and covers an area of over 14 acres. It is believed to have been built in stages, with construction beginning around 900 AD and continuing until around 1100 AD.
While Monk’s Mound is an impressive feat of engineering, it is not a pyramid. Its sides are sloped, rather than steeply triangular, and it does not have a flat top. Instead, it features a broad, flat summit that was likely used for ceremonial purposes.
Other mounds at Cahokia are similarly shaped, with sloping sides and broad, flat summits. Some of these mounds were used as platforms for important buildings, while others were used for burials or as part of a larger ceremonial complex.
While there were no pyramids in St. Louis or the surrounding area, there are other examples of monumental architecture in the region. For example, the Gateway Arch, located in downtown St. Louis, is a 630-foot-tall stainless steel arch that was built in the 1960s to commemorate the city’s role as the “Gateway to the West.”
Designed by architect Eero Saarinen, the Gateway Arch is an impressive engineering achievement, and has become an iconic symbol of St. Louis. Visitors can take a tram to the top of the arch for stunning views of the city and the Mississippi River.
In addition to the Gateway Arch, there are other examples of monumental architecture in St. Louis, including the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, which features stunning mosaics and stained glass windows, and the Old Courthouse, which served as a site for important civil rights cases in the 19th century.
While there were no pyramids in St. Louis, the region is home to other examples of impressive architectural achievements. The mounds at Cahokia, while not pyramids, are an important reminder of the rich pre-Columbian history of the region, and the Gateway Arch is a testament to the city’s modern engineering prowess. Visitors to St. Louis can experience both the city’s past and present through its many architectural treasures.
