Image ©1995 Patrick Shore

The Campus and Its Setting

St. Louis is an old city by American standards, with a rich history in literature and the arts. Washington University's main ("hilltop") campus is on the western edge of the city, bordered on three sides by suburban neighborhoods. To the north is University City, a turn-of-the-century, tree-lined enclave. A convenient shopping area within walking distance of campus is the University City Loop. To the east are the Skinker DeBaliviere, and Wydown Skinker (Demun) neighborhoods, which date back to the 1904 World's fair.  To the west and south is Clayton, a mix of corporate office buildings, county government center and distinctive homes on quiet streets. The campus is bordered on the east by Forest Park, one of the largest municipal parks in America. Forest Park is home to the renowned St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, The Muny theater, lakes for skating in the winter and boating in the summer, golf courses, and courts for tennis and handball. The University also enjoys a special relationship with the internationally known Missouri Botanical Garden, a short drive into the city. At the other side of Forest Park is the Washington University Medical School and the fashionable Central West End with cafes and shops. The St. Louis riverfront and the restored area of Laclede's Landing are seven miles from campus. Many clubs and lounges in this and other areas of the downtown offer live jazz, blues, and ragtime. Towering over the Mississippi River stands the 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch ( Jefferson National Expansion Memorial ), with an extensive museum of the American western frontier and a spectacular view of the city. Just a short drive across the river into Illinois is the Cahokia Mounds Historic Site and Museum, which contains some 950 acres preserving the largest prehistoric structures built north of Mexico.

The cultural life of St. Louis extends beyond Forest Park, and is easily accessible. Hans Vonk and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra perform in Powell Hall; there are several theaters and theatre groups, including the Muny, Repertory, Black Repertory, Edison Theatre, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, as well as dance companies and musical ensembles. The beautifully restored Fox Theatre hosts many Broadway touring companies and concerts. The University and the surrounding communities also provide abundant opportunities for students to participate in theatrical and musical events. For those interested in sports, St. Louis hosts the baseball Cardinals, football Rams, hockey Blues, and soccer Steamers and Ambush.

Those who enjoy nature-oriented activities (in addition to geological field trips!) can explore the rivers, lakes, cliffs, and caves of Missouri's countryside, as close as a half-hour's drive away. A few hours' drive from campus are the Ozark Mountains, which have numerous hiking trails and streams for canoeing. Adventure of a different sort, within an hour's drive, can be found at the popular Six Flags Over Mid-America amusement park.

For working spouses, St. Louis provides many employment opportunities. In the greater St. Louis region, 500 Fortune 1000 companies have a branch, and 10 of the Fortune 500 have headquarters here. In addition to such large companies as Anheuser-Busch, Monsanto, and Ralston Purina, the Washington University Medical Center is a major employer. Various support services have grown around this cluster of business headquarters, including law, accounting, data processing, advertising, public relations, and design firms.

Located in the geographic center of the country, St. Louis is served by a major international airport, the Amtrak train system, and the Bi-State MetroLink System. The city is conveniently reached by numerous major highways, and it has an excellent system of local multi-lane highways that make suburban travel relatively rapid and direct. Students therefore find it easy not only to explore the surrounding neighborhoods and towns, but also to visit other cities and to reach home.

Climate: temperature| precipitation

Hotels near Washington University

See also: Housing Cost Information (what E&PS graduate students actually pay)

St. Louis city neighborhoods (i.e., those to the east of campus)
St. Louis Front Page (news, entertainment, restaurants, hotels, etc.)
Riverfront Times (things you didn't know you needed to know)