Central West End, St. Louis
Encyclopedia
The Central West End is an affluent neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri
, stretching from Midtown
's western edge to Union Boulevard and bordering on Forest Park
with its outstanding array of free cultural institutions. It includes the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (the New Cathedral) on Lindell Boulevard at Newstead Avenue, which houses the largest collection of mosaics in the world. The Central West End is represented by three aldermen as it sits partially in the 17th, 18th, and 28th Wards.
The CWE's commercial district is mainly along Euclid Avenue and stretches from Forest Park Parkway on the south to Delmar Boulevard on the north. Restaurants are primarily clustered in the Euclid/McPherson area, the Euclid/Laclede area and in Maryland Plaza. Unusual, elaborate turn-of-the-century lamp posts and cobblestone streets add to the atmosphere of this neighborhood, which first grew in popularity with the coming of the 1904 World's Fair
which was held in adjacent Forest Park
. Some residential areas of the Central West End are included in the National Register of Historic Places
. One example is Fullerton's Westminster Place, whose large, architect-designed homes, most of which were built in the period 1890–1910, were described in the NRHP nomination as one of the finest turn-of-the-century streetscapes in the United States. Another is the private place
called Washington Terrace
, laid out in 1892.
St. Louis Cardinals
manager Tony LaRussa lives in the neighborhood during the baseball season. Playwright Tennessee Williams
grew up in the neighborhood, and the house of the renowned poet T. S. Eliot
is located in the Central West End. Beat writer William S. Burroughs
's childhood home sits on Pershing Avenue (formerly Berlin Avenue) in the neighborhood. The Central West End was also the location of Sally Benson
's home, the setting of the stories which were adapted into the movie Meet Me in St. Louis
.
/US-40
on the south, Delmar Boulevard on the north, and Boyle Avenue on the east.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, stretching from Midtown
Midtown St. Louis
Midtown St. Louis is three miles west of the St. Louis, Missouri riverfront at the crossroads of Grand Boulevard and Lindell Boulevard. It includes the campus of Saint Louis University and the Grand Center arts district.-Historic status:...
's western edge to Union Boulevard and bordering on Forest Park
Forest Park (St. Louis)
Forest Park is a public park located in western part of the city of St. Louis, Missouri. It is a prominent civic center and covers . The park, which opened in 1876 more than a decade after its proposal, has hosted several significant events, including the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 and...
with its outstanding array of free cultural institutions. It includes the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (the New Cathedral) on Lindell Boulevard at Newstead Avenue, which houses the largest collection of mosaics in the world. The Central West End is represented by three aldermen as it sits partially in the 17th, 18th, and 28th Wards.
The CWE's commercial district is mainly along Euclid Avenue and stretches from Forest Park Parkway on the south to Delmar Boulevard on the north. Restaurants are primarily clustered in the Euclid/McPherson area, the Euclid/Laclede area and in Maryland Plaza. Unusual, elaborate turn-of-the-century lamp posts and cobblestone streets add to the atmosphere of this neighborhood, which first grew in popularity with the coming of the 1904 World's Fair
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the Saint Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 1904.- Background :...
which was held in adjacent Forest Park
Forest Park (St. Louis)
Forest Park is a public park located in western part of the city of St. Louis, Missouri. It is a prominent civic center and covers . The park, which opened in 1876 more than a decade after its proposal, has hosted several significant events, including the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 and...
. Some residential areas of the Central West End are included in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. One example is Fullerton's Westminster Place, whose large, architect-designed homes, most of which were built in the period 1890–1910, were described in the NRHP nomination as one of the finest turn-of-the-century streetscapes in the United States. Another is the private place
Private place
A private place is a self-governing enclave whose common areas are owned by the residents, and whose services are provided by the private sector....
called Washington Terrace
Washington Terrace (St. Louis)
Washington Terrace is a residential private place in St. Louis, Missouri, laid out circa 1892. The gate is south of Union and Delmar, within the bounds of the Central West End....
, laid out in 1892.
St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
manager Tony LaRussa lives in the neighborhood during the baseball season. Playwright Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
grew up in the neighborhood, and the house of the renowned poet T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot
Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his...
is located in the Central West End. Beat writer William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th...
's childhood home sits on Pershing Avenue (formerly Berlin Avenue) in the neighborhood. The Central West End was also the location of Sally Benson
Sally Benson
Sally Benson was an American screenwriter, who was also a prolific short story author, best known for her semi-autobiographical stories collected in Junior Miss and Meet Me in St...
's home, the setting of the stories which were adapted into the movie Meet Me in St. Louis
Meet Me in St. Louis
Meet Me in St. Louis is a 1944 musical film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer which tells the story of an American family living in St. Louis at the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World's Fair in 1904...
.
Boundaries
The neighborhood's boundaries are Union Boulevard and the eastern portion of Forest Park on the west, I-64Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
/US-40
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...
on the south, Delmar Boulevard on the north, and Boyle Avenue on the east.
Public facilities
- Saint Louis Public Library Schlafly Branch, on Lindell Blvd. at Euclid Ave.
- Washington University Medical CenterWashington University Medical CenterThe Washington University Medical Center , located in St. Louis, Missouri, is a large scale health-care focused commercial development located in St. Louis' Central West End neighborhood. The Washington University Medical Center Redevelopment Corporation focuses on developing public-private...
- Barnes-Jewish HospitalBarnes-Jewish HospitalBarnes-Jewish Hospital is the largest hospital in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the adult teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine, and is located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is consistently rated one of the top hospitals in the United States by U.S. News & World Report...
- St. Louis Children's HospitalSt. Louis Children's HospitalSt. Louis Children's Hospital is an academic pediatric hospital providing tertiary level care in St. Louis, Missouri. SLCH is the pediatric teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine. It is the seventh oldest children's hospital in the United States and the first children's...
- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- St. Louis College of PharmacySt. Louis College of PharmacySt. Louis College of Pharmacy is a private and independent nonsectarian college in St. Louis, Missouri. It was founded in 1864....
- U. S. Postal Service branch on Laclede Ave. between Boyle Ave. and Sarah Street
- Cathedral Basilica of St. LouisCathedral Basilica of St. LouisThe Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, also known as the Saint Louis Cathedral or the New Cathedral, was completed in 1914 in St. Louis, Missouri, as the archdiocesan replacement for the Cathedral of St. Louis, King of France...
- Central West End MetroLink StationCentral West End (St. Louis Metrolink)Central West End is a St. Louis MetroLink Station, located in the Central West End at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and Children's Place. This station services the Washington University Medical Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and St. Louis University High...
& MetroBus Center
Neighborhood organizations
- Cathedral Square
- Fullerton's Westminster Place
- Washington TerraceWashington Terrace (St. Louis)Washington Terrace is a residential private place in St. Louis, Missouri, laid out circa 1892. The gate is south of Union and Delmar, within the bounds of the Central West End....
- 4200 Washington POA
- Maryland-Boyle
External links
- Central West End Website
- Dining and Entertainment Guide for the CWE
- Central West End Business Association
- St. Louis Front Page
- Explore St. Louis
- CWEresidence
See also
- Delmar LoopDelmar LoopThe Delmar Loop is an entertainment, cultural and restaurant district in University City, Missouri and the ajoining western edge of St. Louis, Missouri. Most of its attractions are located in the streetcar suburb of University City, but the area is expanding eastward into the Skinker-Debaliviere...
- Forest Park (St. Louis)Forest Park (St. Louis)Forest Park is a public park located in western part of the city of St. Louis, Missouri. It is a prominent civic center and covers . The park, which opened in 1876 more than a decade after its proposal, has hosted several significant events, including the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 and...