Tall brick breweries surround Benton Park and caves go underground in the neighborhood and are all a part of its mystique.

I did a mile walk in the park and the surrounding neighborhood eyeing breweries in the distance and searching for a sign of a cave.

My Time in Benton Park

Near the intersection of McNair Avenue and Arsenal Street, I parked across the street from Benton Park.

Nineteenth-century brick houses faced the park from this side. If I walked a few blocks east up Arsenal I would walk right into the Anheuser-Busch Brewery complex.

My time here was a mile walk in the park wandering around the many footpaths in the park.

Along Illinois Avenue

I entered the park near Illinois Avenue which dead-ends right before Arsenal. The street here had tall two-story brick houses with beveled glass windows.

By the Pond in Benton Park

Walking to the pond, I noticed a foundation all around it. The pond had been difficult to maintain with a supply of water because of its proximity to English Cave. Draining of the lake, leaks filled with concrete stopped this from happening.

Across the lake was the bridge with its decorative black iron railing and gray stone supports.

In the water here the ducks and Canadian geese intermingled in the small iceless area.

I walked across the bridge looking out at the snow and ice that filled my view.

Freidrich Hecker Monument

Next, I headed up a hill towards the Freidrich Hecker Monument. Hecker was a German Revolutionist who came to St. Louis in the 1840s and then served in the Civil War.

There is a small bronze bust of Hecker on the north side and a wreath of oak leaves on the south side.

Inscribed with the dates 1861 and 1848, signifying the first German Revolution and the start of the Civil War. 

Brewery in the Distance

Up by the monument I had a view of the Lemp Brewery. Breweries were built around Benton Park since the area’s caves were good places to store beer. The caves maintain a constant 55-degree temperature that is ideal for beer storage before refrigeration.

Towards Jefferson Avenue

The path went by a circular fountain, which was not going this winter day. The water was mostly frozen with a small section filled with ducks quacking at me as I walked by.

Across the park from here was Jefferson Avenue where I noticed some large brick homes. One had a third-story round tower and a second-story deck.

I headed by a large playground for kids although covered with snow the day I was here. On my left were tennis courts.

I ended up at the corner of Arsenal Street and Jefferson Avenue.

Added Walk To English Cave Site

I decided to do some more walking and went right along Arsenal Street. Then took another right down Wisconsin Avenue to go by the English Cave Community Garden.

Excavation in the garden located the long-lost English Cave. Once used for storing beer, but also for a wine grotto, a mushroom farm, and a community gathering place.

Snaking cameras down through the holes they found a large underground cavern and even a stairway leading up to a door long-sealed from the top.

I didn’t see the holes but wanted to at least see the garden and imagine that below me was a huge cavern once used for laagering of beer in the 19th century.

More Benton Park Facts

Benton Park was originally set aside for a St. Louis cemetery, but this was changed with the founding of Bellefontaine and Calvary Cemeteries in North St. Louis. The park was created by ordinance in 1866.

The naming of the park was in honor of Thomas Hart Benton, the first U.S. Senator representing the people of Missouri. His great-nephew was Congressman Maecenas Eason Benton, the father of painter Thomas Hart Benton.

DETAILS

Drive: Drive down Interstate 55 either from the north or south and exit at 206 onto Arsenal Street. Go west for a few blocks and the park is on the left before Jefferson Avenue. Street parking is available along Arsenal Street.

Hours: 6 am – 10 pm

Address: 3100 S Jefferson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63118

Lunch Break in Benton Park

I ate at Gus’ Pretzels Shop. Located near Interstate 44 and Arsenal. I ordered a fresh salted pretzel, a cinnamon-sugar pretzel, my favorite, and a ham and cheese deli sandwich on a pretzel bun along with cheddar cheese dipping sauce for my salted pretzel.

I love stopping here and having fresh pretzels!

Hours: 7 am – 4 pm Tuesday- Saturday, 7 am – 2 pm Sunday, closed Monday

Address: 1820 Arsenal St, St. Louis, MO 63118

More Urban Dad Hikes

Urban Dad Hikes: Hilly Clifton Heights Park

Victorian and Arts and Crafts homes overlook Clifton Heights Park with its fountain and boathouse.

Favorite Urban Hike: Tower Grove Park

Victorian era Tower Grove Park has one-of-a-kind picnic pavilions, one with a circus tent-like roof or another with Chinese dragons. It is my favorite park in St. Louis.

Urban Dad Hikes: Compton Hill Water Tower

Compton Hill Water Tower stands 179 feet at the highest point in the city of St. Louis. It is an attraction in itself. Yet, it is also paired with a controversial statue in Compton Hill Reservoir Park where I took a hike in the city.

Urban Dad Hike: Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

The mile-long Old Chain of Rocks Bridge 60-feet above the Mississippi River with a 30-degree turn midway was my quest today.

NOTE: Although the bridge leads to St. Louis, parking is only available on the Illinois side of the bridge. Cross the Mississippi River on Interstate 270 towards Illinois then exit onto Highway 3 south then a right turn onto Chain of Rocks Road and the road ends at parking for the bridge.

Dad Hikes — I am venturing into exploring the urban side of hiking in the St. Louis area. Feel free to share suggestions for hikes to do. Also, share any questions you might have on the hikes!