St. John Nepomuk Parish Historic District facts for kids
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St. John Nepomuk Parish
Historic District |
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St. John Nepomuk Church in 2012
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 Location in St. Louis
Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 11th and 12th Sts. between Carroll St. and Lafayette Ave. St. Louis, Missouri |
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| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | Adolphus Druiding |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| MPS | LaSalle Park MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001558 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 19, 1972 |
St. John Nepomuk Parish Historic District is a special area in the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It is centered around the St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church. This area is known as a historic district. This means it is a place with important old buildings. It is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important places in the United States.
History of St. John Nepomuk Church
St. John Nepomuk Church was started in 1854. It was built for people from Bohemia, which is now part of the Czech Republic. This was the first church of its kind in the United States. For a while, a newspaper in the Czech language was printed in one of the church buildings.
As more people joined the church, new buildings were needed. New church buildings were constructed in 1873 and again in 1887. The church you see today was mostly rebuilt in 1897. This was because a big tornado in 1896 had badly damaged the building.
The church also had a school. The parish school started in 1869. It was located across Eleventh Street from the church. Nuns called the School Sisters of Notre Dame taught at this school.
In 1971, the church and six other buildings nearby were named a City Landmark in St. Louis. The next year, in 1972, the whole area became a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. The church parish closed in 2005. However, the church building is still used as a chapel for services.
Design and Style of the Church
The St. John Nepomuk Church was designed by an architect named Adolphus Druiding. He was from Chicago. The church is built in the Gothic Revival style. This style often features tall spires, pointed arches, and large windows.
Adolphus Druiding was famous for designing many Catholic churches, schools, and other church buildings. He worked a lot in the Midwestern United States. The outside of St. John Nepomuk Church is made of brick. This helps it fit in with the other buildings in the Soulard neighborhood.
