#221: United Hebrew Congregation

• First Jewish congregation established west of the Mississippi River
• There is no known year when this was organized (their Facebook page says 1837), although historians debate on it
• Like most religious organizations and groups, they have moved around quite a bit since their inception. They started on 5th St. and Broadway in 1848.
• This facility consists of a Religious School, Hebrew School, Early Childhood Center and Youth Camp.
• The current location at Conway Road opened its doors in 1977.

The cake, decorated by Henryk Ptasiewicz, which focuses on the location:

UPDATE (1/25/2016): The cake still stands outside the place. It was at the front entrance for a long time, but it is now located in the back in the middle of a circle drive. Here is a photo:

Behind the building on 1/23/2016

United Hebrew Congregation on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

13788 Conway Road, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63141
Cake artist: Henryk Ptasiewicz

#193: Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France (Old Cathedral)

Within a walk from the Gateway Arch through the Jefferson Memorial Expansion park is this old church, or rather, cathedral. And it's not just any other cathedral: it is one of the oldest in the United States.

• Given the name Old Cathedral, after Pope John Paul II designated the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis located in Central West End in 1999.
• Built between 1831 and 1834.
• Designated as a basilica by Pope John XXIII in 1961.
• Renovated in 1963.
• While it is one of the city's buildings, it is also the sole surviving building of demolished 40 city blocks. 
• Many Catholic marriages are still performed here.

A view of the Cathedral from the Gateway Arch

At the moment, parts of the building are being covered due to the construction of the expansion of the Arch grounds.

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Top of the cake

Wikipedia link


209 Walnut St., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63102
Cake artist: Vince Sciaroni  (He also decorated the Jay International/South Grand cake)

#158: Sumner High School

The cake was at one time an 'indoor cake', but I believe because of high demand from cake-hunters that this was moved outside. The reason may have been because of the school being closed during the summer (when obviously not in session). Placed in the middle of the staircase, the cake was a bit hard for me to get my typical center shot, but this was better than nothing. Still, this was a thrill to stand in such an institution, which has some rich history.

Sumner High School was established in 1875, as the first high school for African-Americans west of the Mississippi River. It was one of two schools (other being Vashon) that was racially segregated in St. Louis. In 1928, Sumner moved to its current location. Today, classes are still in session...and last year's (2012-13) enrollment was 576 students. The school was named after abolitionist Charles Sumner.

The school boasts several famous alumni (see below).

Notable alumni listed on the cake:
On Bottom: William 'Pop' Beckett, Lester Bowie, Alvin Cash, William Clay, Billy Davis, Jr., Robert Guillaume, Luther Bogan, Robert McFerrin (Sr.), Marshall Rogers, R. Robinson, Jr., Wendell Pruitt, Oliver Lake, Julius Hunter, Lucye Belue, Baikida Carroll and Harry Rogers

Entrance behind the building

Wikipedia link
Official website (from St. Louis Public Schools)

4248 Cottage Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63113
Cake artist: Theresa Hopkins

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there.

#98: Harris-Stowe State University

Just within a walking distance from the Grand Central Arts district and Saint Louis University sits this historically black educational institution. Here are some interesting facts about the university:

• Motto: Inspiring change
• Founded in 1857, it was the first public teacher institution west of the Mississippi River.
• It was founded as a 'normal school' (name for a college that trains high school graduates to be teachers) for whites, and was named Harris Teachers College, after William Torrey Harris.
• In 1890, a black 'normal school' was founded and was named after author Harriet Beecher Stowe (famous for Uncle Tom's Cabin)
• The Harris and Stowe schools were merged as a result from the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling
• In 2005, the school attained university status, and the name was changed to Harris-Stowe State University.
• Harris Teachers College was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
• It is one of only two historically black colleges in Missouri.
• Notable alumni include former St. Louis television news anchor Julius Hunter, and Bobby Wilks, the first African-American promoted to Captain of the United States Coast Guard

Harris-Stowe State University on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website


3026 Laclede Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63103
Cake artist: Linda Thompson

#57: Fort Belle Fontaine

I've been to North County many times...well, actually 'driven through' is more like it. But I never knew this place existed until 2014. For one, there are no signs off of I-270 that bring attention to it. It's a simple drive from the Bellefontaine Road exist, just going straight north and you'll eventually see signs. Once you're there, you meet with a guard and they'll give you a temporary parking pass. Then its time to enjoy the views! And the cake!

• The Fort Belle Fontaine park is located just 3 miles west of the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
• It was the site of the first United States military installation west of the Mississippi River. Jefferson Barracks would eventually replace it.
• This was the location of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, where the explorers camped out in 1806 before their famous journeys to the Pacific.
• Other expeditions to the west started here up until 1819.
• The park shares an entrance with the Missouri Hills Campus of the Missouri Division of Youth Services.
• The park is 305.6 acres, and consists of four different parts: Coldwater Creek, Belle Fontaine Spring, the Missouri River and a 50-acre prairie.
• The park opened in 1986.

The Missouri River in the background

A stone commemorating its bi-centennial

Looking down from the top

Missouri Division of Youth Services building

The cake sides. I do not know what the '9' stands for on the cake:

Fort Belle Fontaine on FB
Official website from St. Louis County's Parks page

13300 Bellefontaine Road, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63138
Cake artist: Screwed Arts Collective

#52: St. Louis Children's Hospital

• The first children's hospital west of the Mississippi River, built in 1879
• It is also the 7th oldest of its kind in the United States
• It has 258 licensed beds, 3000 employees, 700 staff members and numerous volunteers
• Like most hospitals, the Children's Hospital does many services of different kinds, including lung transplant and epilepsy.
• The hospital has been ranked among one of the Top 10 hospitals in Child magazine several times

A view of the high-rise from Forest Park

One of the coolest indoor bridges of St. Louis

The cake, which has a lot of cool pictures for children on it, as decorated by multi-cake artist April Morrison:

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

St. Louis Children's Hospital on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

1 Childrens Place, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63110
Cake artist: April Morrison

#24: Christ Church Cathedral

*PUBLIC VOTE WINNER*

• Built between 1856 and 1867.
• First service was held on Christmas Day in 1867.
• Main body of the church is made from sandstone from Illinois
• The organization dates back to 1819, which makes it the first Episcopal congregation west of the Mississippi River.
• Styled as Gothic, with gargoyles at the belfry tower
• The cathedral has free tours on weekdays.

 And the cake:

Wikipedia link
Official website

1210 Locust St., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63103
Cake artist: Mark Swain