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Forest Park (St. Louis)
Encyclopedia
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 1293 acres (5,232,590 m²). 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 the 1904 Summer Olympics
. Bounded by Skinker Boulevard, Lindell Boulevard, Kingshighway Boulevard, and Oakland Avenue, the park is known as the "heart of St. Louis" and features a variety of attractions, including the St. Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum
, the Missouri History Museum
, and the St. Louis Science Center
.
by Leffingwell, the Missouri General Assembly
authorized the city to purchase the land; however, city taxpayers challenged the purchase in court, and in 1873, the Missouri Supreme Court overturned the authorization. The next year another developer, Andrew McKinley, prepared another proposal that met legal challenges. The tract selected that became Forest Park included a heavily forested 1375 acres (5.6 km²) area west of Kingshighway along Olive Street (now Lindell Boulevard).
The state of the parkland in 1876 was rural: on the eastern and western edges of the park were unpaved roads (Kingshighway and Skinker Road, respectively). Flowing through the northern lowlands and turning southeast in the park was the River des Peres
, which at times was very low while at others was capable of flooding large areas. The southwestern part of the park was heavily forested land, and the east-west Clayton Road ran through the southern part of the park. A railroad right-of-way cut through the northeast corner of the park.
Maximillian G. Kern and Prussian-born St. Louis Surveyor Julius Pitzman
designed the Park's original plan. The park was dedicated June 24, 1876 with a crowd of about 50,000 in attendance. The ceremonies centered on a music stand and podium, and a statue of Edward Bates was dedicated. By the early 1890s, streetcar lines reached the park, carrying nearly 3 million visitors a year, and after the closing of the city zoo, its animals were moved to the park during this time.
In 1901, Forest Park was selected as the location of the 1904 World's Fair, known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The fair opened April 30, 1904 and closed December 1, 1904, and it left the park vastly different. In addition to the fair, the park hosted the diving
, swimming
, and water polo
events for the 1904 Summer Olympics
. Though there were a total of fifteen sports to compete in, the only sport women were allowed to participate in was archery. However, large steps were made for minorities as this was the first time that African Americans were allowed to compete in the Games.
The fair's landscape architect, George Kessler
, dramatically changed the park: the wetlands areas in the western part of the park were drained and converted into water features and five connected lakes. Sewer and water lines that were installed during the fair remained for public use in the park, and after the fair, thousands of trees were planted and vistas were created. In 1909, the fair's directors gave the balance of the remaining profits from the fair toward the construction of a monument to Thomas Jefferson
, which when completed in 1913 became the Missouri History Museum building. Other structures left from the fair include the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Apotheosis of St. Louis
(a statue of French King Louis IX
), the World's Fair Pavilion, and the 1904 Bird Cage.
The Palace of the Arts, a building now known as The Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park, was divided into six classifications: painting, etchings and engravings, sculpture, architecture, loan collection, and industrial art. In addition to art displays, many novelties were showcased for the first time at the Fair. Electricity, still considered young at the time, was showcased in a number of ways. Attendees at the Fair were awestruck by the electric lighting, both inside and out, of all of the important buildings and roads. The electrical plug and the wall outlet were also displayed. Two of the more notable technological achievements demonstrated were the x-ray machine and the baby incubator.
ran openly through the park but, due to sanitary concerns, a portion was put underground in a wooden box shortly before the 1904 World's Fair. In the 1930s, the portion of the River des Peres that runs through Forest Park was diverted entirely underground in huge concrete pipes. More recently, an artificial waterscape linking park lakes has been created. The river remains underground in the park.
, located across Kingshighway from the eastern edge of the park, leased an area of land in Forest Park located to its south for construction of an underground parking garage. After construction was complete, the surface was restored and a playground
was installed; in 1983, the lease was extended to 2050 and the garage was expanded to more than 1,900 spaces. Starting in 2006, the hospital engaged the city to renegotiate the lease to allow for the construction of a building on the site, known as Hudlin Park (although part of Forest Park). The hospital proposal also included an extension of the lease by 46 years to 2096, providing the hospital 90 years of tenancy. Under the proposal, the annual rent would increase from $150,000 to between $1.6 and $2.2 million. The hospital sought to lease more than 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) for which it would pay $2.2 million, or as an alternative it would lease the current 9.3 acres (37,635.8 m²) for which it would pay $1.6 million a year.
Under a January 2007 revised proposal from the hospital, the city would receive $2 million for the lease of 9.3 acres (37,635.8 m²), while the hospital would agree to make improvements to two areas in Forest Park. In February 2007, to gain the support of city Comptroller Darlene Green (one of three members of the St. Louis Board of Apportionment and Estimate, a board that recommends lease proposals to the full Board of Aldermen), the hospital agreed to build, fund, and staff a trauma center in north St. Louis. In the February 2007 revised proposal the hospital also agreed to retain 15 percent of the land as green space.
Despite considerable protest, the proposal advanced to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. A citizens group called Citizens to Protect Forest Park gathered 28,000 signatures to place a ballot measure that would require citywide voter approval of all leases or sales of park land. However, the ballot measure was enacted in April 2007, two months after the revised lease was approved by the Board of Aldermen.
Forest Park has more than 12 million visitors per year, surpassing the number of annual visitors to both Busch Stadium
and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
combined. The park has a diverse patronage, including tourists and local visitors, visitors to park institutions, and special event patrons, with roughly one third of patrons living within ten miles (16 km) of the park, another third between 10 and 30 miles (48.3 km), and another third living beyond 30 miles (48.3 km) from the park. 88 percent of park visitors drive to the park, while the remaining 12 percent are split between public transit and walking or bicycling to the park. The park has eleven multi-modal access points, listed below by the edge of the park:
With about 60 percent of users entering the park, the Hampton Avenue entrance is the most commonly used; this has led to traffic congestion issues that have become more problematic in recent years. To remedy the problem, traffic has been redirected away from the Hampton park entrance and trolley buses have been used to shuttle patrons.
Forest Park is home to several annual St. Louis cultural or entertainment events, including the Great Forest Park Balloon Race
(a hot air balloon
competition), LouFest Music Festival
(August 27-28, 2011), the Shakespeare Festival (a summer theater production), the St. Louis Earth Day Festival, and the St. Louis African Arts Festival. The annual St. Louis Wine Festival, Beer Heritage Festival, and St. Louis Micro-Fest (a microbrewery showcase festival) also are hosted in Forest Park. In winter months, the Jewel Box greenhouse hosts a poinsettia
show with holiday decorations. Forest Park also hosts athletic events, such as the St. Louis Pace Series (an annual track event), the Midnight Ramble (a nighttime bicycling event), and a variety of run-walk fundraisers. On Art Hill in early September, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra offers a free outdoor concert. In addition, the Saint Louis Art Museum sponsors free outdoor film showings in the summer on the hill.
The most visited feature of the park is the St. Louis Zoo, a free zoo
that opened in 1910. In 2010, the zoo attracted 2.9 million visitors to its collection of more than 18,000 animals. The zoo is divided into five animal zones: the River's Edge, which includes elephants, cheetahs, and hyenas; The Wild, which includes penguins, bears, and great apes; Discovery Zone, which includes a petting zoo
; Red Rocks, which features lions, tigers, and other big cats; and the oldest part of the zoo, Historic Hill, which features the 1904 Flight Cage, a herpetarium, and primate house. A sixth zoo zone, known as Lakeside Crossing, features several dining and retail options. For animal care, the zoo also features a veterinary hospital and animal nutrition center.
. In addition to the Orthwein StarBay planetarium
show featuring more than 9,000 stars on an 80 feet (24.4 m) ceiling, the facility offers exhibits about living in space and hosts monthly public stargazing events in conjunction with the St. Louis Astronomical Society.
The Missouri History Museum, located on the northern edge of the park, received slightly more than 500,000 visitors in 2010 to both its permanent and temporary exhibits. The museum has three permanent exhibits: Lindbergh, which opened in 2002 and focuses on the life and flight of Charles Lindbergh
; Seeking St. Louis, two galleries focusing on the history of Greater St. Louis; and the 1904 World's Fair, Looking Back at Looking Forward, an exhibit of artifacts from the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The museum also is home to a 16-ton statue of Thomas Jefferson sculpted by Karl Bitter
, which was unveiled at the opening of the museum in 1913. The museum completed a major expansion in 2000, with the addition of the Emerson Center, a 92000 square feet (8,547.1 m²) building with 24000 square feet (2,229.7 m²) of exhibition space, the Lee Auditorium, a 350-seat theater, and space for retail and dining options.
, houses a comprehensive art museum with particular depth in Oceanic art, Pre-Columbian art
, ancient Chinese bronzes
, and 20th-century German art. The museum began an expansion and renovation project in January 2010 under the direction of architect David Chipperfield
. The construction will relocate surface parking underneath the addition and create a new lower-level gallery, with a total of more than 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) of new building area.
by William Shakespeare
, predated the current building by one year; as part of an advertising convention St. Louis constructed the Municipal Theatre in 1917. Starting in 1919, the Muny was incorporated, and more than 1,500 seats in the 11,000-seat amphitheater were reserved as permanently free.
The Jewel Box, an art deco
greenhouse
, operates as an event venue and horticultural facility. The building has nearly 7500 square feet (696.8 m²) of display space and is 55 feet (16.8 m) high, and it was built in 1936 using funds from the Works Progress Administration
. The Jewel Box was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 2000, and in 2002, the Jewel Box underwent a $3.5 million renovation, which included the removal and reinstallation of interior plantings, upgrades to the heating and air conditioning systems, and modifications to allow the building to be used for catered events.
. The facility offers tennis training programs, sponsors tournaments, and is home to the St. Louis Aces, a local tennis singles team, who play in the 1,100-seat Stadium Court. In 2006 and 2007, several courts were refinished, while new shade awnings and benches were provided for players and spectators.
rentals and was designed by St. Louis architect Laurent Torno in the style of early 20th century Midwestern boathouse cottages.
in 1926. The bandstand, in the classical style, replaced an earlier structure with Asian motifs. In the early 2000s, the landscaping of the area was restored by the Flora Conservancy and the St. Louis Parks Department to a design by Oehme, van Sweden and Associates, and more than 27,000 perennial flowers were planted in the area.
, the Visitor Center is in the Spanish Revival style, and was occupied by tenants of the World's Fair in 1904. In 1914, the building opened as a golf shop and locker room, which it remained until the early 2000s. After the renovation of the adjacent Forest Park Golf Course, the building was converted into the park Visitor Center. The $4 million conversion project restored the clock tower
and installed new heating and air conditioning systems, public restrooms, and locker rooms. Part of the 22000 square feet (2,043.9 m²) facility is available as an event venue known as the Trolley Room, which can accommodate up to 400 guests, while Forest Park Forever, a local non-profit group, operates its headquarters in the building. Other groups in the building include the Missouri Department of Conservation
and Older Adults Services and Information Systems (OASIS). The restoration of the building also allowed for the opening of the Forest Perk Cafe, a coffee and sandwich shop. In addition, the building serves as the home of the World's Fair Bike Rental, which rents cruiser bicycles for public use.
during the winter and sand volleyball during the summer, and a dining and concession area, known as the Snowflake Cafe, offers American cuisine
and alcohol
.
During the early 2000s, the rink underwent a $1.4 million renovation that included a new rink surface, an ice-making system, and a new light and sound system. In addition, the parking lot for the rink was moved from the north end of the facility to the south end. A wetlands and prairie river area replaced the north parking lot, providing a walking path and birdwatching
area.
Located on Government Hill, the World's Fair Pavilion opened in 1910 as a gift from the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Committee as part of their promise to restore the park after the 1904 World's Fair. Designed by English architect Henry Wright, the original cost to build the pavilion was $35,000. In the early 2000s, the building underwent a $1.1 million restoration with the addition of new restrooms and a catering kitchen. In addition, the eastern archways of the building were removed (thereby opening the building to its original state), new lighting was installed, and the twin towers of the building were reconstructed.
. The original course was designed by Scotsman Robert Foulis, an employee of the Old Course at St. Andrews, while a second and third set of nine holes were finished in 1913 and 1915. In 1929, the Forest Park Golf Course was home to the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.
Between 2001 and 2004, the three courses and the clubhouse were completely rebuilt under the direction of course designer Stan Gentry. The rebuilding project initially was funded by St. Louis developer Norman Probstein with a gift of $2 million, followed by donations of $2 million from Eagle Golf, $2.4 million from the Danforth Foundation
, $4.5 million from Forest Park Forever, and $1.6 million from the city of St. Louis. The three rebuilt courses are named for trees in St. Louis: the Hawthorn is a relatively flat and walkable layout; the Dogwood is a somewhat hilly course with a water fairway; and the Redbud is very hilly and the most challenging layout of the three. One glass-enclosed clubhouse serves all three courses, and it includes a restaurant open to all park users known as Ruthie's Grill. After the completion of the renovations, the Forest Park Golf Course was named the Best Golf Course in St. Louis by the local alternative newspaper, the Riverfront Times
.
began his career, and the facility hosted Davis Cup
qualifying matches in 1927, 1946, and 1961. Between 2008 and 2010 the Highlands underwent a complete reconstruction, with a new nine-hole golf course, the installation of clay tennis courts, a new 30-stall lit driving range
, and the construction of a full-service bar and restaurant known as Keagan's Pub and Patio.
The Cascades are a 75 feet (22.9 m) waterfall northwest of the Art Museum and named for the waterfalls which flowed down Art Hill during the 1904 World's Fair. The park also is home to Round Lake and Jefferson Lake, the latter of which is stocked with fish for anglers. The Missouri Department of Conservation assists with the operation of six fish hatchery
lakes at the park. In the early 2000s, the lakes were drained, deepened, aerated and restocked with fish. A new bridge over the river that feeds the lakes also was constructed.
The current Cabanné House was built by Forest Park in the Second Empire style as a parkkeeper's house. After being damaged by fire in 1966, it was repaired and occupied by the City Beautification Commission in 1967. In the 1980s, the St. Louis Ambassadors, a local civic group, renovated the building. They have used it as an office building and event venue.
, who was US Attorney General
under President Abraham Lincoln
. It was the first statue installed in the park. Originally located at the southeast entrance to the park, it was moved during the 1950s during construction of Interstate 64. Medallions at the base of the statue depict James Eads, Hamilton R. Gamble, Charles Gibson
, and Henry S. Geyer
.
The second-oldest statue in the park is the statue of Frank Blair, a U.S. Army general and U.S. senator from Missouri. The statue, located at Kingshighway and Lindell boulevards, was donated by the Blair Monument Association in May 1885. Also at the corner is the modernist Jewish Tercentenary Monument, sculpted by Kurt Perisee in 1956. Commemorating the 300th anniversary of the first Jewish settlement in New Amsterdam
, the main figures represent the Four Freedoms
. In 1989, the monument underwent a $275,000 restoration funded by Howard Baer, an organizer of the Zoo-Museum District that funds regional museums.
The Apotheosis of St. Louis
, located at the north entrance of the Saint Louis Art Museum, is a bronze sculpture of an armored and mounted King Louis IX
of France, preparing for battle. In the early 2000s, the statue was restored; the more than $22,000 cost covered cleaning of the statue, refinishing of the patina, adding protective coating, and restoring the granite pedestal. The original plaster model by the sculptor Charles Niehaus was displayed at the entrance to the 1904 World's Fair, and the finished bronze was given to the city in 1906 by the organizers of the fair. Two statues flank the museum entrance: Sculpture and Painting by David Chester French and Louis Saint-Gaudens
, respectively.
In 1913, the St. Louis Turnverein donated funds for the construction of a monument to Friedrich Jahn, the founder of the Turnverein and modern gymnastics
. Designed by Robert Cauer, the statue is located on the former site of the German Pavilion at the 1904 World's Fair. The next year, in 1914, the Ladies Confederate Monument Association donated a statue commemorating the Confederate States of America
on the north side of the park, near the Dwight Davis Tennis Center. Sculpted by George Julian Zolnay
, it depicts an allegorical figure of an angel and a Southern family sending its only male child to fight in the American Civil War
.
The National Federation of Musicians donated funds for the Musicians Memorial and Fountain to honor Owen Miller and Otto Ostendorf, members of the federation. The memorial, built in 1925, was designed by Victor Holm. Two years after the creation of the Musicians Memorial, the Steinberg family donated Joie de Vivre, a work by Jacques Lipchitz
depicting the joy of life, which is located adjacent to the Steinberg Skating Rink.
Near the Jewel Box is the Colonial Daughter Fountain, donated by the Missouri Society of Colonial Daughters in 1947. Also on the grounds of the Jewel Box is a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, sculpted by Carl Mose and donated by the wife of Harry Turner, a St. Louis publisher.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
located in western part of the city of St. Louis, Missouri
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...
. It is a prominent civic center
Civic center
A civic center or civic centre is a prominent land area within a community that is constructed to be its focal point or center. It usually contains one or more dominant public buildings, which may also include a government building...
and covers 1293 acres (5,232,590 m²). The park, which opened in 1876 more than a decade after its proposal, has hosted several significant events, including the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
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 :...
of 1904 and the 1904 Summer Olympics
1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
. Bounded by Skinker Boulevard, Lindell Boulevard, Kingshighway Boulevard, and Oakland Avenue, the park is known as the "heart of St. Louis" and features a variety of attractions, including the St. Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum
Saint Louis Art Museum
The Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the principal U.S. art museums, visited by up to a half million people every year. Admission is free through a subsidy from the cultural tax district for St. Louis City and County.Located in Forest Park in St...
, the Missouri History Museum
Missouri History Museum
The Missouri History Museum is located in St. Louis, Missouri in Forest Park. The museum is operated by the Missouri Historical Society and was founded in 1866...
, and the St. Louis Science Center
St. Louis Science Center
The Saint Louis Science Center is a collection of buildings including a science museum and planetarium in St. Louis, Missouri, on the southeastern corner of Forest Park. The Planetarium opened in 1963, and it was expanded and renamed as the Saint Louis Science Center in 1983...
.
Early proposals
An 1864 plan for a large park in the city limits was rejected by St. Louis voters. In 1872, St. Louis developer Hiram Leffingwell proposed a 1000 acres (4 km²) park about three miles (5 km) outside the city limits near land which he owned. After a period of intense lobbyingLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
by Leffingwell, the Missouri General Assembly
Missouri General Assembly
The Missouri General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bicameral General Assembly is composed of a 34-member Senate, and a 163-member House of Representatives. Members of both houses of the General Assembly are subject to term limits...
authorized the city to purchase the land; however, city taxpayers challenged the purchase in court, and in 1873, the Missouri Supreme Court overturned the authorization. The next year another developer, Andrew McKinley, prepared another proposal that met legal challenges. The tract selected that became Forest Park included a heavily forested 1375 acres (5.6 km²) area west of Kingshighway along Olive Street (now Lindell Boulevard).
Creation of the park
Using McKinley's proposal as a guide, in 1874 the General Assembly passed the Forest Park Act, which established the park and created a county-wide property tax to fund it. In November 1874, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the new law and referred all questions of land ownership and value to the circuit court. The largest parcels of land needed for the park belonged to Thomas Skinker, Charles P. Chouteau, Julia Maffitt, and William Forsyth, who in 1874 and 1875 sold their land to the city for a combined sum of nearly $800,000.The state of the parkland in 1876 was rural: on the eastern and western edges of the park were unpaved roads (Kingshighway and Skinker Road, respectively). Flowing through the northern lowlands and turning southeast in the park was the River des Peres
River des Peres
The River des Peres is a metropolitan river in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the backbone of sanitary and stormwater systems in the city of St. Louis and portions of St. Louis County...
, which at times was very low while at others was capable of flooding large areas. The southwestern part of the park was heavily forested land, and the east-west Clayton Road ran through the southern part of the park. A railroad right-of-way cut through the northeast corner of the park.
Maximillian G. Kern and Prussian-born St. Louis Surveyor Julius Pitzman
Julius Pitzman
Julius Pitzman was a Prussian-born American surveyor and city planner best known for his development of the private, gated neighborhoods in St. Louis, Missouri from 1867 through about 1914....
designed the Park's original plan. The park was dedicated June 24, 1876 with a crowd of about 50,000 in attendance. The ceremonies centered on a music stand and podium, and a statue of Edward Bates was dedicated. By the early 1890s, streetcar lines reached the park, carrying nearly 3 million visitors a year, and after the closing of the city zoo, its animals were moved to the park during this time.
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
In 1901, Forest Park was selected as the location of the 1904 World's Fair, known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The fair opened April 30, 1904 and closed December 1, 1904, and it left the park vastly different. In addition to the fair, the park hosted the diving
Diving at the 1904 Summer Olympics
At the 1904 Summer Olympics, in St. Louis, diving debuted as an official two-event Olympic sport, exclusive for men. The competitions were held on Monday, September 5, 1904 and on Wednesday, September 6, 1904.-Medal summary:-Medal table:...
, swimming
Swimming at the 1904 Summer Olympics
At the 1904 Summer Olympics, nine swimming events were contested, all for men. The 1904 swimming competition was the only time in Olympic history that racing distances were measured in yards. The competition was held September 4–6, 1904. There was a total of 32 participants from 5 countries...
, and water polo
Water polo at the 1904 Summer Olympics
At the 1904 Summer Olympics, a water polo tournament was contested. Only American contestants participated; three teams of 7 players each entered....
events for the 1904 Summer Olympics
1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
. Though there were a total of fifteen sports to compete in, the only sport women were allowed to participate in was archery. However, large steps were made for minorities as this was the first time that African Americans were allowed to compete in the Games.
The fair's landscape architect, George Kessler
George Kessler
George Edward Kessler was a German American pioneer city planner and landscape architect.Over the course of his forty-one year career, George E. Kessler completed over 200 projects and prepared plans for 26 communities, 26 park and boulevard systems, 49 parks, 46 estates & residents, and 26 schools...
, dramatically changed the park: the wetlands areas in the western part of the park were drained and converted into water features and five connected lakes. Sewer and water lines that were installed during the fair remained for public use in the park, and after the fair, thousands of trees were planted and vistas were created. In 1909, the fair's directors gave the balance of the remaining profits from the fair toward the construction of a monument to Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, which when completed in 1913 became the Missouri History Museum building. Other structures left from the fair include the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Apotheosis of St. Louis
Apotheosis of St. Louis
Apotheosis of St. Louis is a statue of King Louis IX of France, namesake of St. Louis, Missouri, located in front of the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park. Prior to the completion of the Gateway Arch, the statue was the principal symbol of the city. It has served in the iconography of St...
(a statue of French King Louis IX
Louis IX
Louis IX may refer to:* Louis IX of France .* Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria "the Rich" * Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt ....
), the World's Fair Pavilion, and the 1904 Bird Cage.
The Palace of the Arts, a building now known as The Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park, was divided into six classifications: painting, etchings and engravings, sculpture, architecture, loan collection, and industrial art. In addition to art displays, many novelties were showcased for the first time at the Fair. Electricity, still considered young at the time, was showcased in a number of ways. Attendees at the Fair were awestruck by the electric lighting, both inside and out, of all of the important buildings and roads. The electrical plug and the wall outlet were also displayed. Two of the more notable technological achievements demonstrated were the x-ray machine and the baby incubator.
River des Peres
At one time the River des PeresRiver des Peres
The River des Peres is a metropolitan river in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the backbone of sanitary and stormwater systems in the city of St. Louis and portions of St. Louis County...
ran openly through the park but, due to sanitary concerns, a portion was put underground in a wooden box shortly before the 1904 World's Fair. In the 1930s, the portion of the River des Peres that runs through Forest Park was diverted entirely underground in huge concrete pipes. More recently, an artificial waterscape linking park lakes has been created. The river remains underground in the park.
Hospital lease controversy
In 1973, Barnes-Jewish HospitalBarnes-Jewish Hospital
Barnes-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...
, located across Kingshighway from the eastern edge of the park, leased an area of land in Forest Park located to its south for construction of an underground parking garage. After construction was complete, the surface was restored and a playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
was installed; in 1983, the lease was extended to 2050 and the garage was expanded to more than 1,900 spaces. Starting in 2006, the hospital engaged the city to renegotiate the lease to allow for the construction of a building on the site, known as Hudlin Park (although part of Forest Park). The hospital proposal also included an extension of the lease by 46 years to 2096, providing the hospital 90 years of tenancy. Under the proposal, the annual rent would increase from $150,000 to between $1.6 and $2.2 million. The hospital sought to lease more than 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) for which it would pay $2.2 million, or as an alternative it would lease the current 9.3 acres (37,635.8 m²) for which it would pay $1.6 million a year.
Under a January 2007 revised proposal from the hospital, the city would receive $2 million for the lease of 9.3 acres (37,635.8 m²), while the hospital would agree to make improvements to two areas in Forest Park. In February 2007, to gain the support of city Comptroller Darlene Green (one of three members of the St. Louis Board of Apportionment and Estimate, a board that recommends lease proposals to the full Board of Aldermen), the hospital agreed to build, fund, and staff a trauma center in north St. Louis. In the February 2007 revised proposal the hospital also agreed to retain 15 percent of the land as green space.
Despite considerable protest, the proposal advanced to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. A citizens group called Citizens to Protect Forest Park gathered 28,000 signatures to place a ballot measure that would require citywide voter approval of all leases or sales of park land. However, the ballot measure was enacted in April 2007, two months after the revised lease was approved by the Board of Aldermen.
Use
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, of MLB...
and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is in St. Louis, Missouri, near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was designated as a National Memorial by Executive Order 7523, on December 21, 1935, and is maintained by the National Park Service .The park was established to...
combined. The park has a diverse patronage, including tourists and local visitors, visitors to park institutions, and special event patrons, with roughly one third of patrons living within ten miles (16 km) of the park, another third between 10 and 30 miles (48.3 km), and another third living beyond 30 miles (48.3 km) from the park. 88 percent of park visitors drive to the park, while the remaining 12 percent are split between public transit and walking or bicycling to the park. The park has eleven multi-modal access points, listed below by the edge of the park:
- East: Clayton Avenue (outbound), Barnes Hospital Drive, West Pine Boulevard
- West: Forsyth Avenue, Wells Drive (inbound)
- North: West Pine Boulevard, Union Drive, Cricket Drive, Debaliviere Place
- South: Tamm Avenue, Hampton Avenue
With about 60 percent of users entering the park, the Hampton Avenue entrance is the most commonly used; this has led to traffic congestion issues that have become more problematic in recent years. To remedy the problem, traffic has been redirected away from the Hampton park entrance and trolley buses have been used to shuttle patrons.
Forest Park is home to several annual St. Louis cultural or entertainment events, including the Great Forest Park Balloon Race
Great Forest Park Balloon Race
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race is an annual hot air balloon festival held in Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri. With more than 70 entrants and 130,000 spectators, it is the most well-attended single-day hot air balloon race in the United States.-History:...
(a hot air balloon
Hot air balloon
The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. It is in a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft. On November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first untethered manned flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air...
competition), LouFest Music Festival
LouFest
The LouFest Music Festival is an annual two-day event, held on Central Field in Forest Park, located in St. Louis, Missouri. The event features local, regional and national acts, with an esthetic range from funk and indie-rock to alt-country and soul...
(August 27-28, 2011), the Shakespeare Festival (a summer theater production), the St. Louis Earth Day Festival, and the St. Louis African Arts Festival. The annual St. Louis Wine Festival, Beer Heritage Festival, and St. Louis Micro-Fest (a microbrewery showcase festival) also are hosted in Forest Park. In winter months, the Jewel Box greenhouse hosts a poinsettia
Poinsettia
Euphorbia pulcherrima, commonly known as Zack Wood or noche buena, is a species of flowering plant indigenous to Mexico and Central America. The name "poinsettia" is after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the US in 1825...
show with holiday decorations. Forest Park also hosts athletic events, such as the St. Louis Pace Series (an annual track event), the Midnight Ramble (a nighttime bicycling event), and a variety of run-walk fundraisers. On Art Hill in early September, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra offers a free outdoor concert. In addition, the Saint Louis Art Museum sponsors free outdoor film showings in the summer on the hill.
Features
Forest Park is home to five of the region's major institutions: the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Science Center, the Missouri History Museum, and the Muny amphitheater. It also is home to several recreational facilities, including the Dwight Davis Tennis Center, the Steinberg Skating Rink, the Boathouse Restaurant (with boat rentals), the Forest Park Golf Course, the Highlands Golf and Tennis Center, handball courts, and fields for softball, baseball, soccer, cricket, rugby, and archery. The park also features extensive walking and bicycling paths.St. Louis Zoo
The most visited feature of the park is the St. Louis Zoo, a free zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
that opened in 1910. In 2010, the zoo attracted 2.9 million visitors to its collection of more than 18,000 animals. The zoo is divided into five animal zones: the River's Edge, which includes elephants, cheetahs, and hyenas; The Wild, which includes penguins, bears, and great apes; Discovery Zone, which includes a petting zoo
Petting zoo
A petting zoo features a combination of domestic animals and some wild species that are docile enough to touch and feed. In addition to independent petting zoos, also called children's farms or petting farms, many general zoos contain a petting zoo...
; Red Rocks, which features lions, tigers, and other big cats; and the oldest part of the zoo, Historic Hill, which features the 1904 Flight Cage, a herpetarium, and primate house. A sixth zoo zone, known as Lakeside Crossing, features several dining and retail options. For animal care, the zoo also features a veterinary hospital and animal nutrition center.
St. Louis Science Center
The St. Louis Science Center, located across Interstate 64 on the southern edge of Forest Park, received slightly more than 1 million visitors in 2010. Part of the science center, the McDonnell Planetarium, is located within the park and is connected to the main building by an enclosed footbridgeFootbridge
A footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction...
. In addition to the Orthwein StarBay planetarium
Planetarium
A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
show featuring more than 9,000 stars on an 80 feet (24.4 m) ceiling, the facility offers exhibits about living in space and hosts monthly public stargazing events in conjunction with the St. Louis Astronomical Society.
Missouri History Museum
The Missouri History Museum, located on the northern edge of the park, received slightly more than 500,000 visitors in 2010 to both its permanent and temporary exhibits. The museum has three permanent exhibits: Lindbergh, which opened in 2002 and focuses on the life and flight of Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
; Seeking St. Louis, two galleries focusing on the history of Greater St. Louis; and the 1904 World's Fair, Looking Back at Looking Forward, an exhibit of artifacts from the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The museum also is home to a 16-ton statue of Thomas Jefferson sculpted by Karl Bitter
Karl Bitter
Karl Theodore Francis Bitter was an Austrian-born United States sculptor best known for his architectural sculpture, memorials and residential work.- Life and career :...
, which was unveiled at the opening of the museum in 1913. The museum completed a major expansion in 2000, with the addition of the Emerson Center, a 92000 square feet (8,547.1 m²) building with 24000 square feet (2,229.7 m²) of exhibition space, the Lee Auditorium, a 350-seat theater, and space for retail and dining options.
Saint Louis Art Museum
The Saint Louis Art Museum, which opened as the Palace of Fine Arts as part of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, is located in the only permanent structure built for the fair. The building, designed by Cass GilbertCass Gilbert
- Historical impact :Gilbert is considered a skyscraper pioneer; when designing the Woolworth Building he moved into unproven ground — though he certainly was aware of the ground-breaking work done by Chicago architects on skyscrapers and once discussed merging firms with the legendary Daniel...
, houses a comprehensive art museum with particular depth in Oceanic art, Pre-Columbian art
Pre-Columbian art
Pre-Columbian art is the visual arts of indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, North, Central, and South Americas until the late 15th and early 16th centuries, and the time period marked by Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas....
, ancient Chinese bronzes
Chinese bronzes
Bronzes are some of the most important pieces of Chinese art, warranting an entire separate catalogue in the Imperial art collections. The Chinese Bronze Age began in the Xia Dynasty, and bronze ritual containers form the bulk of the collection of Chinese antiques, reaching its zenith during the...
, and 20th-century German art. The museum began an expansion and renovation project in January 2010 under the direction of architect David Chipperfield
David Chipperfield
Sir David Alan Chipperfield CBE, RA, RDI, RIBA is a British architect, born in London. He has offices in London, Berlin and Milan, and a representative office in Shanghai...
. The construction will relocate surface parking underneath the addition and create a new lower-level gallery, with a total of more than 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) of new building area.
The Muny
The Muny, officially known as the Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis, has operated in Forest Park since 1916. The first production, As You Like ItAs You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published in the folio of 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility...
by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
, predated the current building by one year; as part of an advertising convention St. Louis constructed the Municipal Theatre in 1917. Starting in 1919, the Muny was incorporated, and more than 1,500 seats in the 11,000-seat amphitheater were reserved as permanently free.
The Jewel Box
The Jewel Box, an art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
, operates as an event venue and horticultural facility. The building has nearly 7500 square feet (696.8 m²) of display space and is 55 feet (16.8 m) high, and it was built in 1936 using funds from the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
. The Jewel Box was added to 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...
in 2000, and in 2002, the Jewel Box underwent a $3.5 million renovation, which included the removal and reinstallation of interior plantings, upgrades to the heating and air conditioning systems, and modifications to allow the building to be used for catered events.
Dwight Davis Tennis Center
The Dwight Davis Tennis Center is a tennis facility with 19 lighted tennis courts and a clubhouse, named after St. Louis tennis player Dwight DavisDwight F. Davis
Dwight Filley Davis was an American tennis player and politician. He is best remembered as the founder of the Davis Cup international tennis competition.-Biography:...
. The facility offers tennis training programs, sponsors tournaments, and is home to the St. Louis Aces, a local tennis singles team, who play in the 1,100-seat Stadium Court. In 2006 and 2007, several courts were refinished, while new shade awnings and benches were provided for players and spectators.
Boathouse
The Boathouse at Forest Park is both a restaurant and boat rental facility. Since the opening of Forest Park in 1876, boating has been an activity in the park; in 1894, the St. Louis Post Dispatch paid more than 6,000 workers to expand one of the lakes in the park. In the early 2000s, a new boathouse opened with access to both Post-Dispatch Lake and the Grand Basin at the foot of Art Hill. The boathouse, open year round, offers paddle boatPedalo
A paddle boat or "pedalo" is a form of waterborne transport, primarily for recreational use, powered through the use of pedals....
rentals and was designed by St. Louis architect Laurent Torno in the style of early 20th century Midwestern boathouse cottages.
Pagoda Circle
Pagoda Circle, located in front of the Muny, is a circular drive located around a lake with an island. On the island is the Nathan Frank Bandstand, which was built using funds donated by local businessman Nathan FrankNathan Frank
Nathan Frank was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.Born in Peoria, Illinois, Frank attended the public schools of Peoria and St. Louis and Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri....
in 1926. The bandstand, in the classical style, replaced an earlier structure with Asian motifs. In the early 2000s, the landscaping of the area was restored by the Flora Conservancy and the St. Louis Parks Department to a design by Oehme, van Sweden and Associates, and more than 27,000 perennial flowers were planted in the area.
Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center
The Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center, formerly known as the Lindell Pavilion, was built in 1892 as a streetcar station for the Lindell Railway. Designed by Eames and YoungEames and Young
Eames and Young, American architecture firm based in St. Louis, Missouri, active nationally, and responsible for several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.- History :...
, the Visitor Center is in the Spanish Revival style, and was occupied by tenants of the World's Fair in 1904. In 1914, the building opened as a golf shop and locker room, which it remained until the early 2000s. After the renovation of the adjacent Forest Park Golf Course, the building was converted into the park Visitor Center. The $4 million conversion project restored the clock tower
Clock tower
A clock tower is a tower specifically built with one or more clock faces. Clock towers can be either freestanding or part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall. Some clock towers are not true clock towers having had their clock faces added to an already existing building...
and installed new heating and air conditioning systems, public restrooms, and locker rooms. Part of the 22000 square feet (2,043.9 m²) facility is available as an event venue known as the Trolley Room, which can accommodate up to 400 guests, while Forest Park Forever, a local non-profit group, operates its headquarters in the building. Other groups in the building include the Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation
The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Conservation Commission were created by Article IV Sections 40-42 of the Missouri Constitution, which were adopted by the voters of the state in 1936 as Amendment 4 to the constitution...
and Older Adults Services and Information Systems (OASIS). The restoration of the building also allowed for the opening of the Forest Perk Cafe, a coffee and sandwich shop. In addition, the building serves as the home of the World's Fair Bike Rental, which rents cruiser bicycles for public use.
Steinberg Skating Rink
The Steinberg Skating Rink opened in November 1957 after a donation by the Steinberg Charitable Trust. Etta Steinberg, the wife of Mark C. Steinberg, gave more than $600,000 toward the $935,000 cost of the rink. The rink is open for ice skatingIce skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...
during the winter and sand volleyball during the summer, and a dining and concession area, known as the Snowflake Cafe, offers American cuisine
American cuisine
American cuisine is a style of food preparation originating in the United States of America.American cuisine may also refer to:* American Cuisine , a 1998 French film...
and alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
.
During the early 2000s, the rink underwent a $1.4 million renovation that included a new rink surface, an ice-making system, and a new light and sound system. In addition, the parking lot for the rink was moved from the north end of the facility to the south end. A wetlands and prairie river area replaced the north parking lot, providing a walking path and birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
area.
The World's Fair Pavilion
Forest Park Golf Course
The Forest Park Golf Course, also known as the Courses at Forest Park or the Norman Probstein Community Golf Course, opened in 1912 as a nine-hole golf courseGolf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
. The original course was designed by Scotsman Robert Foulis, an employee of the Old Course at St. Andrews, while a second and third set of nine holes were finished in 1913 and 1915. In 1929, the Forest Park Golf Course was home to the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.
Between 2001 and 2004, the three courses and the clubhouse were completely rebuilt under the direction of course designer Stan Gentry. The rebuilding project initially was funded by St. Louis developer Norman Probstein with a gift of $2 million, followed by donations of $2 million from Eagle Golf, $2.4 million from the Danforth Foundation
Danforth Foundation
Danforth Foundation is one of the largest private non-for profit foundations in the St. Louis Metropolitan region. The foundation has 1.5 billion USD in assets as of 2003. Established in 1927 by Ralston Purina founder William H. Danforth and his wife, the Danforth Foundation grants funds...
, $4.5 million from Forest Park Forever, and $1.6 million from the city of St. Louis. The three rebuilt courses are named for trees in St. Louis: the Hawthorn is a relatively flat and walkable layout; the Dogwood is a somewhat hilly course with a water fairway; and the Redbud is very hilly and the most challenging layout of the three. One glass-enclosed clubhouse serves all three courses, and it includes a restaurant open to all park users known as Ruthie's Grill. After the completion of the renovations, the Forest Park Golf Course was named the Best Golf Course in St. Louis by the local alternative newspaper, the Riverfront Times
Riverfront Times
The Riverfront Times is a weekly newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri that consists of local politics, music, arts and dining news in the print edition and daily updates to blogs and photo galleries on its website...
.
Highlands Golf and Tennis Center
The Highlands Golf and Tennis Center, formerly known as Triple A Golf and Tennis Club, opened in 1897 on the site of the current Forest Park Golf Course; in 1902, the course moved to a 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) facility near the southeast corner of Forest Park due to the construction of the 1904 World's Fair. The new facility included a nine-hole golf course, tennis, handball and volleyball courts, a running track, and baseball and lacrosse fields. The tennis courts at the Highlands were where player Jimmy ConnorsJimmy Connors
James Scott "Jimmy" Connors is an American former world no. 1 tennis player....
began his career, and the facility hosted Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
qualifying matches in 1927, 1946, and 1961. Between 2008 and 2010 the Highlands underwent a complete reconstruction, with a new nine-hole golf course, the installation of clay tennis courts, a new 30-stall lit driving range
Driving range
A driving range is an area where golfers can practice their swing. It can also be a recreational activity itself for amateur golfers or when enough time for a full game is not available. Many golf courses have a driving range attached and they are also found as stand-alone facilities, especially...
, and the construction of a full-service bar and restaurant known as Keagan's Pub and Patio.
Lakes and water features
Fish hatchery
A fish hatchery is a "place for artificial breeding, hatching and rearing through the early life stages of animals, finfish and shellfish in particular". Hatcheries produce larval and juvenile fish primarily to support the aquaculture industry where they are transferred to on-growing systems...
lakes at the park. In the early 2000s, the lakes were drained, deepened, aerated and restocked with fish. A new bridge over the river that feeds the lakes also was constructed.
Kennedy Forest and Kennedy Woods
Kennedy Forest is a forest in the southwest corner of the park, while the Kennedy Woods area is located near the Muny in the center of the park. Kennedy Forest features hiking trails maintained by the Missouri Department of Conservation, while Kennedy Woods includes a walking path through wildflowers and native Missouri plants.Cabanne House
The Cabanne House, built in 1876, is one of the oldest structures in the park. The original Cabanné House was built in 1819 by Jean Pierre Cabanné, a fur trader and merchant. It served as a farmhouse for the Cabanné family until the sale of the land to the city in 1875. Upon the opening of the park, the original house was converted into a lodge. (It was demolished in the 1880s).The current Cabanné House was built by Forest Park in the Second Empire style as a parkkeeper's house. After being damaged by fire in 1966, it was repaired and occupied by the City Beautification Commission in 1967. In the 1980s, the St. Louis Ambassadors, a local civic group, renovated the building. They have used it as an office building and event venue.
Statues and memorials
Near the Cascades waterfall on the western edge of the park is an 1876 statue of Edward BatesEdward Bates
Edward Bates was a U.S. lawyer and statesman. He served as United States Attorney General under Abraham Lincoln from 1861 to 1864...
, who was US Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
under President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. It was the first statue installed in the park. Originally located at the southeast entrance to the park, it was moved during the 1950s during construction of Interstate 64. Medallions at the base of the statue depict James Eads, Hamilton R. Gamble, Charles Gibson
Charles Gibson
Charles deWolf "Charlie" Gibson is a former American broadcast television anchor and journalist. He was a host of Good Morning America from 1987 to 1998 and 1999 to 2006 and anchor of World News with Charles Gibson from 2006 to 2009....
, and Henry S. Geyer
Henry S. Geyer
Henry Sheffie Geyer was a politician, lawyer, and soldier from Missouri. Born in Frederick, Maryland, he was instructed privately, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1811 and practiced law in Frederick...
.
The second-oldest statue in the park is the statue of Frank Blair, a U.S. Army general and U.S. senator from Missouri. The statue, located at Kingshighway and Lindell boulevards, was donated by the Blair Monument Association in May 1885. Also at the corner is the modernist Jewish Tercentenary Monument, sculpted by Kurt Perisee in 1956. Commemorating the 300th anniversary of the first Jewish settlement in New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
, the main figures represent the Four Freedoms
Four Freedoms
The Four Freedoms were goals articulated by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 6, 1941. In an address known as the Four Freedoms speech , he proposed four fundamental freedoms that people "everywhere in the world" ought to enjoy:# Freedom of speech and expression# Freedom of worship#...
. In 1989, the monument underwent a $275,000 restoration funded by Howard Baer, an organizer of the Zoo-Museum District that funds regional museums.
The Apotheosis of St. Louis
Apotheosis of St. Louis
Apotheosis of St. Louis is a statue of King Louis IX of France, namesake of St. Louis, Missouri, located in front of the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park. Prior to the completion of the Gateway Arch, the statue was the principal symbol of the city. It has served in the iconography of St...
, located at the north entrance of the Saint Louis Art Museum, is a bronze sculpture of an armored and mounted King Louis IX
Louis IX
Louis IX may refer to:* Louis IX of France .* Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria "the Rich" * Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt ....
of France, preparing for battle. In the early 2000s, the statue was restored; the more than $22,000 cost covered cleaning of the statue, refinishing of the patina, adding protective coating, and restoring the granite pedestal. The original plaster model by the sculptor Charles Niehaus was displayed at the entrance to the 1904 World's Fair, and the finished bronze was given to the city in 1906 by the organizers of the fair. Two statues flank the museum entrance: Sculpture and Painting by David Chester French and Louis Saint-Gaudens
Louis Saint-Gaudens
Louis Saint-Gaudens American sculptor and younger brother of Augustus Saint-Gaudens.Born in New York City, he had his early training as a cameo cutter. In 1878 he and his brother moved to Paris where they shared a studio and attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.Returning to America he settled in...
, respectively.
In 1913, the St. Louis Turnverein donated funds for the construction of a monument to Friedrich Jahn, the founder of the Turnverein and modern gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
. Designed by Robert Cauer, the statue is located on the former site of the German Pavilion at the 1904 World's Fair. The next year, in 1914, the Ladies Confederate Monument Association donated a statue commemorating the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
on the north side of the park, near the Dwight Davis Tennis Center. Sculpted by George Julian Zolnay
George Julian Zolnay
George Julian Zolnay was a Romanian and American sculptor called the "sculptor of the Confederacy".-Early years:Zolnay was born on July 4, 1863 to Ignatius and Carolina Vagan Zolnay...
, it depicts an allegorical figure of an angel and a Southern family sending its only male child to fight in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
The National Federation of Musicians donated funds for the Musicians Memorial and Fountain to honor Owen Miller and Otto Ostendorf, members of the federation. The memorial, built in 1925, was designed by Victor Holm. Two years after the creation of the Musicians Memorial, the Steinberg family donated Joie de Vivre, a work by Jacques Lipchitz
Jacques Lipchitz
Jacques Lipchitz was a Cubist sculptor.Jacques Lipchitz was born Chaim Jacob Lipchitz, son of a building contractor in Druskininkai, Lithuania, then within the Russian Empire...
depicting the joy of life, which is located adjacent to the Steinberg Skating Rink.
Near the Jewel Box is the Colonial Daughter Fountain, donated by the Missouri Society of Colonial Daughters in 1947. Also on the grounds of the Jewel Box is a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, sculpted by Carl Mose and donated by the wife of Harry Turner, a St. Louis publisher.
See also
- People and culture of St. Louis, MissouriPeople and culture of St. Louis, MissouriThe culture of St. Louis, Missouri includes a variety of attractions located within the city of St. Louis, Missouri and in surrounding communities in Greater St...
- Parks in St. Louis, MissouriParks in St. Louis, MissouriParks in St. Louis, Missouri are administered by the city of St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, the National Park Service, or a separate private board, and include 105 city parks and several other recreational areas....
- St. Louis MetroLinkSt. Louis MetrolinkMetroLink is the light rail transit system in the Greater St. Louis area of Missouri and the Metro East area of Illinois. The entire system currently consists of two lines connecting Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and Shrewsbury, MO with Scott Air Force Base near Shiloh, Illinois through...
- Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink stationForest Park-DeBaliviere (St. Louis Metrolink)Forest Park-DeBaliviere is a St. Louis MetroLink subway station, located at the northeast corner of Forest Park Parkway and DeBaliviere Avenue in St. Louis. This station is located just to the north of Forest Park. Attractions in the park include the St. Louis Art Museum, St...
- 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...
- Skinker Metrolink StationSkinker (St. Louis Metrolink)The Skinker St. Louis MetroLink subway station opened August 26, 2006 at the intersection of Skinker Boulevard and Forest Park Parkway near the boundary of St. Louis and University City, and serves the eastern portion of the Washington University main campus, the western portion of Forest Park, and...
- Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink station
- Bob CassillyBob CassillyRobert James Cassilly Jr. was an American sculptor, entrepreneur, and museum director. Based in St...
sculpted statues in the zoo and the large turtle sculptures on the southern side of the park