8. St. Louis, Missouri
In the 19th century, St. Louis was the unruly gateway to the West, teeming with gamblers, duels, and notorious river pirates along the Mississippi. Violence and vice were everyday hazards in this bustling frontier hub. Today, St. Louis is known for its culture and history, but its wild past tells a different story. The Missouri History Museum preserves artifacts from this turbulent era, highlighting how far the city has come.
