Cakeway to the West

In honor of St. Louis turning 250, there is an art display around the St. Louis area. 250 (fiberglass) cakes have been placed , each decorated by a different local artist. Some are all the way out out in Kimmswick, a lot are in Illinois. I have been seeing them around for the past few months, but didn't really think much about it.

Well, Gwyn's (amazing) preschool is getting the families involved. They sent out a letter, asking families to take pictures with the cakes. At the end of the summer, they will have a birthday party/end of summer party and show all the pictures.

I love this. I have been wanting to find the cakes. I like how they are artsy. I love that it is like a scavenger hunt. I love that I am learning about the history of the area. I love that I am having fun with the kids.

Here is the website for the event. I have found out that people voted on the location of the first 50 cakes. The other 200 were selected by the committee. There are 5 categories, each getting 50 cakes. They are Landmark Sites, Heritage and Culture, the Great Outdoors, Local Favorites, and Innovation. The website not only provides a map with all the locations, but it tells you who the artist is, and why there is a cake there. So far, about 240 cakes have been revealed.

So I decided today that we would have a cake hunt. I was more excited than the kids, but they did have fun with it. We found the cakes in St. Charles and the one in St. Peters. (2 were within a mile of our house.) Then we got a few that were just on the other side of the river. The boys started have fun with it, and set our goal at 50 cakes by the end of the summer. Even though the cakes are out until the end of 2014, it is not realistic that we will see all 250. Some are over an hour drive in one direction. I think one day we will devote to a few in Illinois. The boys have mentioned going to see the statue of Robert Wadlow, and now there is a cake there!

Here are pictures from the 10 cakes we found today. My favorite part is looking for the cakes. I don't tell the kids where each one is located, and I try not to read that information. I just go to the place on the map. The kids have fun running around looking for it. The cake that took the longest to find today was the cake by the Shrine of St. Rose. My second favorite part is talking about the history. (That cake was to honor the first school west of the Mississippi that was free to its students. Then Kevin and I talked about why that was important.)

Also, the boys were using Lego men and designs to come up with different poses. (Adorable.)

Centennial Greenway / KATY Trail - This was our first one, and this is how we get to the trail!

Lewis and Clark Boat House and Nature Center - The first of several in old St. Charles

First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site - Kevin tripped looking for this one, and didn't want to be in the picture.

St. Charles Old County Courthouse

Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne - We looked around a different statue so this took a few minutes to find.

Lindenwood University - the boys remembered that this is the school I got my Master's from last year!

St. Charles County Heritage Museum at Heritage Park - This backs up to our neighborhood.

Creve Coeur Lake - Gwyn's favorite because it has a purple candle.

YMCA of Greater St. Louis - The best part of this cake was that it was inside, and gave us water and restroom breaks.

Payne Gentry House - Our last stop.

 I know it is a lot of driving, but this was a great event for a hot day!