The Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center in St. Louis is the largest active multi-use transportation center in the state. It is in downtown St. Louis, next to the historic Union Station complex. It serves as a hub center/station for MetroLink, the MetroBus regional bus system, Greyhound, Amtrak, and taxi services.
Flag of Missouri:
The flag of the state of Missouri consists of red, white, and blue stripes, with the Missourian state seal in the center.
Designed by Mary Elizabeth Oliver, the red and white stripes, as is traditional, represent valor and purity, respectively. The blue represents three things: the permanency, vigilance, and justice of the state. The three colors also highlight the French influence on the state in its early years. In the center white stripe is the seal of Missouri, circled by a blue band containing 24 stars, symbolizing Missouri’s admission as the 24th U.S. state.
The center of the seal contains the Great Seal of the United States on the right side, and, on the left, symbols representing the state. On both sides of the center circle, a bear represents strength and bravery; a crescent moon represents the newness of statehood and the potential for growth. Surrounding these symbols is the motto “United we stand, divided we fall”. The belt buckle signifies the State’s ability to secede from the Union if deemed necessary, i.e., the belt can be unbuckled. Two mighty grizzly bears support this center shield. A scroll carries the state motto, “Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto”, a Latin phrase meaning “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.” The year 1820 is inscribed in Roman numerals below the scroll, although Missouri was not officially granted statehood until 1821. A star representing each of the other states of the Union (Missouri became the 24th) graces the top portion of the seal. The outer circle of the seal bears the words “The Great Seal of the State of Missouri”. Above the shield is a helmet representing Missouri’s state sovereignty. The large star above the helmet surrounded by 23 smaller stars represents Missouri’s status as the 24th state. The cloud around the stars indicates the problems Missouri had in becoming a state.
The flag was made the official flag of the state on March 22, 1913, when then governor Elliot Woolfolk Major signed a bill making it official.
The Missourian state flag was designed and stitched in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, by Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver, the wife of former State Senator R.B. Oliver. She began her flag project in 1908 as part of her volunteer activities with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) when she was appointed chairperson of the DAR committee to research and design Missouri’s flag. Oliver researched state flags extensively. She wrote each state’s secretary of state for information about how their state’s flags had been designed and officially adopted. Her original design incorporated Missouri’s coat of arms and was rendered as a painted paper flag by her friend Mary Kochitzky.