#239: AKC Museum of the Dog

Name pretty much says it all. For those like me who are unfamiliar, I'll throw some information out. What does AKC stand for? The American Kennel Club. Here is some cool info for all you dog lovers out there:

• The museum is part of Queeny Park in Ballwin.
• This is one of the very few museums that allows dogs. Well behaved ones, that is
• There are more than 700 pieces of dog-related artwork throughout the museum
• Museum is inside the historic Jarville house, which was built by Edgar Queeny, who was president of Monsanto from 1928 to 1960
• While the museum's idea goes back to the early 1970s, the reality of a comprehensive museum devoted to dogs became a reality in St. Louis when it moved here from New York City in 1987.

The Dog Museum sign

The entrance to the dog museum

Cute, even though I'm not into dogs...

The cake, which was decorated by dog and animal enthusiast Lindsay Harmon. I know she had fun doing this one!:

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Top of the cake

NOW: The cake has been reportedly placed indoors.

Official website

1721 S. Mason Rd., BALLWIN, MO, 63011
Cake artist: Lindsey Harmon

#216: Our Lady of the Rivers

This was my second attempt to get the cake. During the first week of July, I took a drive along the Missouri river road on Hwy. 94 from West Alton to Portage des Sioux, ready to get the cake and see the location. As I got there, I didn't see the cake so I kept looking...and looking. I accessed the stl250 site through my phone and I saw that they listed this cake location as 'Temporarily Unavailable due to high water'. Of course, I was bummed. It was my understanding that it was a vulnerable place because it is prone to flood waters and its closeness to the Mississippi River. But I did get to take some shots of the statue and the walkway.

I returned later that month, when the cake was placed back. (I don't know where it was during its hiatus, possibly in a nearby government building).

The cake, which has quite a pet theme to it, from what I understand artist Lindsay Harmon likes:  (This was also one of two cakes that I recall seeing 'tied down' to something. The other one was later Manchester City Hall)

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Located at the end of LeSeurre Street, PORTAGE DES SIOUX, MO, 63373
Cake artist: Lindsay Harmon

#209: First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site

It is not well-known to some of the St. Louis-area people that St. Charles was the first capital of Missouri. Only from 1821 to 1826, but not many people know that it was actually a 'temporary capital'. Missouri lawmakers at the time wanted to make an area in the central part of the state, off the Missouri River, and name it after Thomas Jefferson. Today, the area is known as Jefferson City, which of course, is the capital of Missouri.

St. Charles has so much rich history to it. Some obscure information about the city is found all over, and it has been well-restored. Many cakes have been placed in St. Charles, as well as all over the county. You'll see them in my other posts. A very little known fact: Jean Baptiste Point du Sable lived here, and died here in 1818. Du Sable was the first resident of the city of Chicago, Illinois. Who knew he would end his life in Cardinal Nation?

St. Charles County:
St. Charles is the county seat of St. Charles County and is a big city. However, it is not the largest city as it has been surpassed by O'Fallon. Other cities include Lake Saint Louis, Wentzville and St. Peters. St. Charles County is bordered by 7 different counties, in both Illinois and Missouri. Most of the county's border is water, by the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. According to Wikipedia, it is the wealthiest and fastest-growing county in Missouri. Both the county and city are named for Italian cardinal Saint Charles Borromeo.

The building is to represent what life was like in the 1800s, as well as its architecture. First floor was used as a store, while the second floor was for the government.

The cake, as designed by Lindsay Harmon: (Sorry, I wasn't able to get the back of it, but I know that it talks about the first state capitol)

Left side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Top of the cake

Wikipedia link
Official website

200 S. Main St., ST. CHARLES, MO, 63301
Cake artist: Lindsay Harmon

#205: August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area

• Located just south of St. Charles
• Is 6,987 acres, including 3,000 acres of wildlife (too many to list!)
• Has free programs that involve nature, and plenty of trails. In addition, several kid-related stuff is offered here
• The land was first purchased by the Missouri Department of Conservation in 1947, with help from August Busch's wife, Alice, from the United States government. 
• Licenses for fishing and hunting are available here
• Many exhibits also spotlight the area, including a 1,300 gallon aquarium

The visitors center

Inside the visitors center

The cake, of course, is focused on nature:

Top of the cake. It looks like Lindsay plastered a map on top!

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

2360 Highway D, ST. CHARLES, MO, 63304
Cake artist: Lindsay Harmon

#58: West Alton Memorial Park

Despite the village's size, West Alton has three city parks. The cake is located at Memorial Park, directly off Missouri Highway 94. West Alton actually spreads throughout the eastern part of the peninsula that is surrounded by the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Most of its residents live about a mile from the intersection at Hwy. 94 and US 67.

West Alton is home to conservation areas including Dresser Island and Edward 'Ted' and Pat Jones-Confluence Point State Park. The Memorial Park pays tribute to the veterans who have fought in WWI, WWII, Korean War and the Vietnam War. There is also a brickway (where the cake is placed) that serves as a memorial to the residents who have lost loved ones.

West Alton Wikipedia link
West Alton Parks website

Located off MO Hwy. 94 at the intersection of St. Charles Street
Cake artist: Lindsay Harmon

#13: Calhoun County Community Foundation

The northernmost cake in the 'Cakeway to the West' lies in the sleepy Illinois River town of Hardin. It's probably known for its drawbridge, if anything. Hardin is one of the smallest populated county seats in Illinois (it actually wouldn't surprise me if it was THE smallest). Calhoun County itself claims to be 'the least crowded county' in Illinois. That could be true as well.

Despite of what it says in the title, Calhoun County Community Foundation, the cake is actually located at Horman Memorial Park, which faces the Illinois River.

The Joe Page Bridge, the only bridge linking to Calhoun County

And I figured since I drove that far, I might as well take a few pictures of the town:

Hardin, IL Wikipedia link
Calhoun County, IL Wikipedia link

100 Main Street, HARDIN, IL, 62047
Cake artist: Lindsay Harmon

UPDATE (9/4/2016): The cake is still in Hardin, but it is now placed outside the new Calhoun Historical Society building there (by a 4-way stop)