Travel to St. Louis Missouri for Vatican Splendors: A Journey through Faith and Art. The exhibit features 170 works of art and historically significant objects, many of which have never left the Vatican.  From the opening theater experience, where visitors will become immersed in the grandeur of the Vatican, to the closing object of a cast of Pope John Paul II’s hand (which guests may grasp), visitors will encounter the art, history and culture of the Vatican with unprecedented access and insight.  Highlights include: extraordinary works by the masters including Michelangelo, Bernini, Giotto, and Guercino; mosaics, paintings, frescoes, embroidered silk vestments, and uniforms of the Papal Swiss Guard. Enjoy a narrated tour of the quaint rivertown of Alton, Illinois featuring the Historic District, with its’ spectacular views of the Mighty Mississippi, legendary sites that were an important part of the Underground Railroad, the Melvin Price Lock and Dam, and the National Great Rivers Museum. You’ll also visit the stunning Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, which rivals the grandest cathedrals in the world and was almost a century in the making. Among its treasures are one of the world’s largest collections of mosaic art, Tiffany stained glass windows, and two Kilgen pipe organs. Take a step back in time with a visit to Kimmswick, Missouri where visitors are welcomed to enjoy the quaint and historic atmosphere of this small river town. Browse through the many specialty stores and enjoy a country-style lunch at the Blue Owl, where everything is homemade. In Fulton Missouri explore the life and times of one of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century at the Winston Churchill Museum, and listen to a concert on the Museum's famous Mander Tracker organ.