National Register of Historic Places listings in Downtown and Downtown West St. Louis facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

St. Louis, Missouri, is a city full of history! Many of its old buildings and areas are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This special list is kept by the United States government to help protect places that tell us about America's past.

This article will tell you about some of the amazing historic buildings and neighborhoods in Downtown St. Louis and Downtown West, St. Louis. These areas are found between Cole Street to the north, the Mississippi River to the east, Chouteau Avenue to the south, and Jefferson Avenue to the west. Tucker Avenue helps divide Downtown from Downtown West.

What are Historic Places?

When a building or an area is added to the National Register of Historic Places, it means it's recognized as important to the history of the United States. These places might be famous for their architecture, for events that happened there, or for people who lived or worked there.

There are a few different types of listings:

National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) listings are places important to local, state, or national history.
National Historic Landmarks (NHL) are extra special places that have outstanding national importance. Think of them as the "best of the best" historic sites.
Historic Districts (HD) are groups of buildings or an entire neighborhood that together tell a story about the past.

Famous Historic Landmarks

Some of the most well-known places in Downtown St. Louis are also National Historic Landmarks.

The Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch is a super famous landmark that stands tall on the riverfront. It's a huge arch that represents the westward expansion of the United States. It was built to honor Thomas Jefferson and the pioneers who explored the West. The Arch is part of the Gateway Arch National Park, which is also a historic district.

The iconic Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

Eads Bridge

The Eads Bridge is an amazing bridge that crosses the Mississippi River. When it was finished in 1874, it was a huge achievement in engineering! It was the first bridge of its kind and showed how strong and innovative American engineers were.

The historic Eads Bridge spanning the Mississippi River.

Union Station

St. Louis Union Station used to be one of the busiest train stations in the world. It was built in 1894 and has beautiful architecture. Today, it's no longer a train station, but it's been transformed into a hotel, restaurants, and attractions, keeping its historic charm.

St. Louis Union Station, once a bustling train hub.

Wainwright Building

The Wainwright Building is a very important skyscraper. It was designed by famous architect Louis Sullivan and is considered one of the first skyscrapers ever built. It helped change how tall buildings were designed and constructed.

The Wainwright Building, an early skyscraper.

Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral is a beautiful church located on Locust Street. It's known for its stunning architecture and has been an important part of the St. Louis community for many years.

Christ Church Cathedral, a historic place of worship.

Eugene Field House

The Eugene Field House was the home of Roswell Field, a civil rights lawyer. It's a significant place that tells us about important legal history in St. Louis.

The Eugene Field House.

U.S. Customhouse and Post Office

The U.S. Customhouse and Post Office is an impressive building at 8th and Olive Streets. It served as a vital government building for many years, handling mail and customs.

The historic U.S. Customhouse and Post Office.

Historic Districts in Downtown St. Louis

Besides individual buildings, entire areas in St. Louis are recognized as historic districts. This means that many buildings within these areas contribute to their historical importance.

Cupples Warehouse District

The Cupples Warehouse District is a large area with many old warehouses. These buildings were once very important for storing and distributing goods when St. Louis was a major transportation hub.

Laclede's Landing

Laclede's Landing is a historic neighborhood right by the Mississippi River. It's one of the oldest parts of St. Louis and still has cobblestone streets and brick warehouses from the 1800s. It was a busy port area back in the day.

Laclede's Landing, a historic riverfront district.

Lucas Avenue Industrial Historic District

The Lucas Avenue Industrial Historic District includes many industrial buildings and warehouses. These buildings show how St. Louis grew as a center for manufacturing and business.

Mansion House Center Historic District

The Mansion House Center Historic District is another important area that has been recognized for its historical significance.

Olive and Locust Historic Business District

The Olive and Locust Historic Business District covers a large area with many old business buildings. This district shows how important these streets were for shopping and commerce in the past.

Plaza Square Apartments Historic District

The Plaza Square Apartments Historic District includes several apartment buildings that are important examples of architecture from their time.

South Fourth Street Commercial District

The South Fourth Street Commercial District is another area recognized for its historical commercial buildings.

Washington Avenue Historic District

The Washington Avenue Historic District is a very well-known area. It was once a bustling center for shoe factories and dry goods companies. Many of the old factory buildings have now been turned into cool apartments and businesses.

A view of the Washington Avenue Historic District.

Washington Avenue: East of Tucker District

This district is another part of the historic Washington Avenue area, specifically the section east of Tucker Boulevard. It also has many historic commercial buildings.

Other Notable Historic Buildings

Many other buildings in Downtown St. Louis are also on the National Register of Historic Places. Here are just a few examples:

The Advertising Building and Blackwell-Wielandy Building on Locust Street were important for businesses.
The American Theater and Ambassador Theater Building (which was later demolished) were places where people went for entertainment.
The Arcade Building and Paul Brown Building are examples of grand office buildings from the early 1900s.
The Campbell House Museum is a preserved historic home that shows what life was like in St. Louis long ago.
The Chemical Building and Frisco Building are other examples of impressive commercial architecture.
The Grand-Leader (Stix, Baer & Fuller Dry Goods Co.) Building was once a major department store where people shopped.
The Hotel Jefferson and Hotel Statler were grand hotels that hosted many visitors to the city.
The International Fur Exchange Building shows St. Louis's past as a center for the fur trade.
The J.C. Penney Co. Warehouse Building and Hamilton-Brown Shoe Factory are examples of industrial buildings.
The Kiel Opera House (now Peabody Opera House) is a beautiful venue for performances.
The Missouri Athletic Club Building is a grand building that served as a social and athletic club.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Building and St. Louis Post-Dispatch Printing Building were home to the city's major newspaper.
The Seven-Up Company Headquarters was where the famous soda company had its main offices.

Former Listings

Sometimes, a historic place might be removed from the National Register. This can happen if a building is destroyed or if its historical features are changed too much.

The Olive Street Terra Cotta District was once a historic area, but it was later removed from the list.
The USS INAUGURAL (a former Navy ship) was listed as a National Historic Landmark. However, it broke loose during a big flood in 1993 and sank downriver, so it was removed from the list.

These historic places help us remember the rich past of St. Louis and how the city has grown and changed over time. They are important parts of our shared history!

Images for kids

The Advertising Building.
The Ambassador Theatre Building.
The American Theater.
The American Zinc, Lead and Smelting Company Building.
The Arcade Building.
The Balmer & Weber Music House Co. Building.
The Beethoven Conservatory.
The Bell Telephone Building.
The Berry Motor Car Service Building.
The Blackwell-Wielandy Building.
The Board of Education Building.
The Boatman's Bank Building.
The A. D. Brown Building.
The Paul Brown Building.
The Building at 1009 Olive St.
The Building at 1121–23 Locust St.
The Building at 1300 Washington Avenue.
The Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
The Centennial Malt House.
The Century Building and Syndicate Trust Building.
The Chemical Building.
The City Club Building.
The Crunden-Martin Manufacturing Company.
Delaney Bldg.JPG

The Delany Building.
The Downtown YMCA Building.
The Emerson Electric Company Building.
The Employment Security Building.
The Endicott-Johnson Shoe Distribution Plant.
Engine House No. 32.
The Executive Office Building.
The Farm and Home Savings and Loan Association.
The Fashion Square Building.
The Ford Apartments.
The Franklin School.
The Frisco Building.
The Fulton Bag Company Building.
General American Life Insurance Co. Buildings.jpg

The General American Life Insurance Co. Buildings.
The General American Life Insurance Company National Headquarters (now 700 Market).
The William A. Gill Building.
The Grand-Leader (Stix, Baer & Fuller Dry Goods Co.) Building.
The Haas Building.
The Elias Haas Building.
The Hadley-Dean Glass Company.
The Halsey-Packard Building.
The Hamilton-Brown Shoe Factory.
The Hargadine-McKittrick Dry Goods Building.
The Mayfair Hotel.
The Hotel Statler.
The International Fur Exchange Building.
The J.C. Penney Co. Warehouse Building.
The J. Kennard and Sons Carpet Company Building.
The Kiel Opera House.
The Kieselhorst Piano Company Building.
The Laclede Building.
The Lambert Building.
The Lambert-Deacon-Hull Printing Company Building.
The LaSalle Building.
The Leacock Sporting Goods Company Building.
The Robert E. Lee Hotel.
The Lennox Hotel.
The Lesan-Gould Building.
The Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co. Building.
The Liggett and Myers (Rice-Stix) Building.
The Lindell Real Estate Company Building.
The Louderman Building.
A warehouse in the Lucas Avenue Industrial Historic District.
The Majestic Hotel.
The Majestic Manufacturing Company Buildings.
The Mansion House Center Historic District.
The Marquette Hotel.
The Maryland Hotel.
The May Company Department Store Building.
The Midwest Terminal Building.
The Mississippi Valley Trust Company Building.
The Missouri Athletic Club Building.
The Missouri Electric Light and Power Co.
The Missouri Pacific Building.
The Moon Brothers Carriage Company Building.
The Municipal Courts Building.
The Municipal Service Building.
The National Cash Register Company Sales and Repair Building.
The Old Laclede Gas and Light Company Building.
The Old Weber Implement and Automobile Company.
The Olive and Locust Historic Business District.
The Peabody Coal Company National Headquarters.
The Pet Plaza.
The Peters Shoe Company Building.
The Phipps-Wallace Store Building.
The Plaza Square Apartments Historic District.
The Polar Wave Ice and Fuel Company, Plant No. 6.
The Publicity Building.
The Railway Exchange Building.
The St. Louis Globe-Democrat Building.
The St. Louis Mart and Terminal Warehouse.
The St. Louis News Company.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Building.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Printing Building.
The Saint Louis Provident Association Building.
The St. Mary's Infirmary.
The St. Mary of Victories Church.
The Scruggs-Vandervoort-Barney Warehouse.
The Security Building.
The Seven-Up Company Headquarters.
The Martin Shaughnessy Building.
The Shell Building.
The Silk Exchange Building.
The South Fourth Street Commercial District.
The Spool Cotton Co. Building.
The William A. Stickney Cigar Company Building.
The Thiebe-Stierlin Music Company Building.
The Union Market.
The Union Station Post Office Annex.
The Union Trust Company Building.
The United Shoe Machinery Building.
The Washington Avenue: East of Tucker District.
The Weber Implement and Automobile Company Building.
The John Weisert Tobacco Company.
The Willys-Overland Building.
The Winkelmeyer Building.
The Wrought Iron Range Company Building.
The Olive Street Terra Cotta District.
The USS INAUGURAL.

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National Register of Historic Places listings in Downtown and Downtown West St. Louis Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.