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List of landmarks of St. Louis facts for kids

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Eads Bridge construction
A view of the Eads Bridge being built in 1870. It's a famous St. Louis Landmark!

A St. Louis Landmark is a special title given to important historic buildings and places in St. Louis, Missouri. The city's leaders, called the Board of Aldermen, decide which places get this honor. These landmarks are chosen because they are important to the city's history, culture, or look.

Once a place is a St. Louis Landmark, it is protected. A group called the St. Louis Preservation Board makes sure these places are kept safe. If anyone wants to change a landmark, even for small things, they need special permission from this Board. This helps keep St. Louis's history alive! Many St. Louis Landmarks are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which can help with money for their care. Some are even bigger deals, called National Historic Landmarks, which means they are important to the whole country.

How Places Become Landmarks

The Mayor of St. Louis chooses eight people to be on the Preservation Board. This Board suggests places that should become landmarks. Then, the Board of Aldermen votes on these suggestions.

People can ask the Preservation Board to consider a property. This can be done by the property owner, a city alderman, or the city's Cultural Resources Office.

The Preservation Board looks at several things to decide if a place is important enough to be a landmark:

  • Does it show something important about the city's history or culture?
  • Did a major historical event happen there?
  • Was it built by a famous architect or builder who changed how things were made?
  • Does it have special designs, details, or materials that were new or unique for its time?
  • Is it a well-known and loved part of a neighborhood or the city because of its location or unique look?
  • Could it have important old artifacts hidden underground?
  • Is it a piece of art that is in a public place?

However, some buildings are not under the Preservation Board's control. These include properties owned by the St. Louis Public Library, the St. Louis City Board of Education, or the state or U.S. government.

National Recognition for Landmarks

Many St. Louis Landmarks are also recognized by the United States government. Some have been named National Historic Landmarks by the United States Secretary of the Interior. This means they are super important to the history of the entire country!

Other landmarks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes many important buildings, sites, and objects that are worth saving. Not all St. Louis Landmarks are on these national lists, and not all national landmarks are St. Louis Landmarks. For example, Gateway Arch National Park and Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site are national sites in St. Louis, but they are not city landmarks.

List of St. Louis Landmarks

Here are some examples of St. Louis Landmarks. This list uses the names found on the official St. Louis government website.

St. Louis Landmark Location Built Demolished NRHP NHL Image
Al's Restaurant 1200 N. 1st St. 1872 Upload image
Ambassador Theater 411 N. 7th St. 1926 1996 March 29, 1983 Ambassador Theatre, St.Louis, MO in 1926 - 1.png
Anheuser-Busch Complex 711 Pestalozzi St. 1859 November 13, 1966 November 13, 1966 1942 HABS photo
Art Museum 1 Fine Arts Dr. 1904 St. Louis Art Museum.JPG
Bevo Mill 4749 Gravois Ave. 1917 June 3, 2013 Bevo Mill Restaurant 20150905-190.jpg
Bissell Street Water Tower 1423 Bissell St. 1886 June 5, 1970 STL Bissell and Blair Water Tower 01.JPG
Campbell House 1508 Locust St. 1851 April 20, 1977 Campbell House Exterior.JPG
City Hall Tucker Blvd. & Market St. 1893 City Hall, St. Louis, Missouri.jpg
Compton Hill Water Tower Grand Blvd. & Russell Blvd. 1899 September 29, 1972 Compton Hill Water Tower.jpg
Eads Bridge Washington Ave. & Mississippi River 1874 October 15, 1966 January 29, 1964 1942 HABS photo
Fox Theatre 523 N. Grand Blvd. 1929 October 8, 1976 Fox theater stl.jpg
Grand Avenue (Old or White) Water Tower 20th St. and Grand Blvd. 1871 June 15, 1970 STL North Grand Water Tower.JPG
Old Courthouse 11 N. 4th Street 1859 October 15, 1966 Old St Louis County Courthouse 20150905 046-047.jpg
Old Post Office 815 Olive St. 1884 November 22, 1968 December 30, 1970 MO-St. Louis courthouse 1884.jpg
Soulard Market 730 Carroll St. 1928 December 26, 1972 Soulard Market St. Louis.jpg
St. Alphonsus Catholic Church 1118 N. Grand Blvd. 1893 St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church (St. Louis).jpg
St. Louis Cathedral 4431 Lindell Blvd. 1914 Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.JPG
Statue of St. Louis Forest Park 1906 Apotheosis-of-saint-louis.jpg
Union Station 1820 Market St. 1894 December 30, 1970 December 30, 1970 Stlouis-waters.jpg
Wainwright Building 705 Chestnut St. 1892 May 23, 1968 May 23, 1968 Wainwright building st louis USA.jpg

Historic Districts

St. Louis also has special areas called Historic Districts. These are groups of buildings or neighborhoods that are important together. The city has 18 Local Historic Districts, and 8 of them are "Certified Local Historic Districts." This means they meet certain standards and can get extra support.

Local Historic Districts

  • Benton Park
  • Lafayette Square
  • McKinley Heights
  • Tower Grove East
  • The Ville

Certified Local Historic Districts

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