architecture tour st louis

• Blairmont : Developer Paul McKee has announced grandiose plans for his north side holdings, but a pattern of neglect tells a different story.
• Mullanphy Immigrant Home : Donations are still needed to keep this near north landmark standing.
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Central Library Architectural Tours

St. Louis Public Library’s Central Library boasts some of the finest examples of Beaux-Arts and Neo-Classical Architecture in the United States. Designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert and completed in 1912, the structure which occupies a full city block is a historic treasure. Exquisite replicas of features from the Pantheon, Vatican and Michelangelo’s Laurentian Library bring the Italian Renaissance to life in the heart of downtown St. Louis. Among the many amazing treasures featured throughout Central Library are the thirty decorative shields bearing the “Printers’ Devices” or marks of some of history’s most famous printers carved on the building's stone exterior. 

An extensive $70 million award-winning renovation of Central Library led by George Nikolajevich with Cannon Design was completed in 2012, and showcases a masterful blend of classical and modern architectural styles while preserving Central Library’s unparalleled beauty for generations to come.

Tour Information Regularly scheduled, Docent-led tours are available for individuals and groups under 10 people, on Mondays and Saturdays on a walk-in basis. Our Docents will greet patrons at the large wooden desk in the Great Hall. Tours begin promptly as scheduled.

Tour Hours Mondays 11 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. Saturdays 11 a.m, Noon and 1 p.m.

Private tours are available by appointment. We recommend 30 days advance notice. For private tours and groups of 10 or more people, a reservation is required. Please call 314-338-7792 or email [email protected] to schedule a tour.

Can't make it on a tour day? Download our FREE audio tour app, SLPL Central Library Tour (available in the Apple Store or Google Play) , and explore on your own.

To arrange a school group visit please contact the Children’s Library at 314-539-0380 or the Teen Lounge at 314-539-0332.

If you are planning on driving to Central Library, please see the parking information page.

*Tours last approximately one hour, please let us know upon booking if members of your party are unable to stand for an hour or have challenges with steps so that we may better accommodate your group.

The Central Library is accessible and meets ADA standards.

Thank you , we look forward to your visit.

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8 historic house tours in St. Louis

Step back in time with a visit to one or more local homes.

by Ryann Jenkins-LeFlore

December 14, 2023

Photography by Jeffrey Beall

Cabanne House

(Currently closed for construction. Check website for more information.) 

Built in 1819, the historic Cabanne House was named for Jean Pierre Cabanne, one of the area’s first settlers. The Second Empire style home was part of the master plan for Forest Park, and served as a residence for park superintendents and commissioners. Its architectural elements–high ceilings, tall windows, and a mansard roof–are hallmarks of the post-Civil War era. 

Tour Hours: Currently closed for construction. 

Address: 5300 Lindell

Photography by Matt Seidel

The Campbell House

Campbell House Museum

The Campbell House was the first house in the Lucas Place neighborhood. Built in 1851, it was home to fur trader and entrepreneur Robert Campbell and his family from 1894 to 1938. Now a museum, it contains an extensive collection of the Campbells’ original possessions.

Tour Hours: Wednesday-Saturdays from 10 a.m.. to 4 p.m.; Sundays 12 to 4 p.m. The house is open by appointment only on Mondays and Tuesdays. 

Address: 1508 Locust 

Photo by Chris Naffziger

The Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park, Kirkwood

The Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park 

The Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park was designed in 1950 by iconic 20th-century architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Russell Kraus and his wife, Ruth Goetz Kraus, commissioned Wright to design the home in the Usonian style. Located in Kirkwood, the residence was the architect’s first building in St. Louis and one of five in Missouri.

Tour Hours: 

Wednesday: 11:30 a.m and 1:00 p.m.

Friday: 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:00 p.m.

Sunday: 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. 

Address: 120 North Ballas 

Photography by Michael C. Daft

Magic Chef Mansion

🎧 Listen to SLM 's interview with Donaho on the House of Lou podcast .

Located in the historic Compton Hill Reservoir Square neighborhood, the Magic Chef Mansion was built in 1908. Designed by Ernst Janssen for Charles Strockstrom, founder of the Quick Meal and Magic Chef Stove Company, the estate features original furniture and decor. 

Tour Hours: Open year round for tours. Schedule a tour here .

Address: 3400 Russell 

Tappmeyer House

Built from 1880 to 1884, the Tappmeyer Homestead was once a working farm to four generations of Tappmeyers. In 2003, the Victorian Italianate-style house was moved from its original location on Olive Street Road to Millennium Park, where it now serves as a public space for exhibits, tours, and functions. The first floor has been restored and holds a collection of period-appropriate furniture and decor.

Tour Hours: Open for self-guided tours during summer concerts at Millennium Park as well as every second and fourth Sunday from June through August, from noon to 4 p.m. The property is closed during the winter months. 

Address: Tappmeyer House, 2 Barnes West

Photography by Otter Graphics Studios

The Lemp Mansion

Built in the 1860s, the Lemp Mansion was purchased as a residence and auxiliary office by William J. Lemp, who used his massive brewery fortune to turn the thirty-three room house into a Victorian showplace. The Lemp mansion offers guided tours, dining, and overnight accommodations. 

Tour Hours: Every other Thursday from December throughAugust, with additional days added in September, October, and November. Start times vary between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Call for more information. 

Address: 3322 Demenil 

Courtesy of Thomas Sappington House

Thomas Sappington House

Thomas Sappington House 

The Thomas Sappington House was built in 1808 in the Federal style. Named for Thomas Sappington, whose family was one of the first to settle in St. Louis County, the brick mansion has been meticulously restored and elegantly refurbished. The house is bordered by period flower and herb gardens. Visitors to the home will experience life as its inhabitants did in the early 1800s. 

Museum and Library Hours: The Thomas Sappington house is open on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and the third Saturday of the month, from 11:00 a.m.  to 2:00 p.m. 

Address: 1015 Sappington 

Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden

Tower Grove House

The Tower Grove house was built in 1849 by architect George Barnett as the country home of Missouri Botanical Garden founder Henry Shaw. In the years following Shaw’s death in 1889, Dr. William Trelease, the Garden’s first appointed director, and his wife Julia, lived at the house. This Italianate-style residence now shares the stories and legacies of Shaw on the western side of the house, and the Trelease family in the eastern bedrooms on the second floor. In 1953, it opened as a historic house museum.

Tour Hours: From April through December, the house is open Wednesday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Address: 4344 Shaw

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See St. Louis from a Different Angle

From the Gateway Arch to the City Museum to the “Painted Ladies,” St. Louis architecture reflects the rich history, continuous innovation and endless creativity of our region.

Architecture buffs, you might want to head to Soulard , as well. The neighborhood is one of the only places in the world where you can see flounder houses. The rare and unique style originated in St. Louis in the 19th century and gets its name from the profile of the building when observed from the street or alley.

While you’re in St. Louis, make the most of your architectural exploration with our Buildings & Bites pass !

On the app, you’ll find 20 amazing St. Louis attractions. The list was inspired by the Coloring STL exhibition at the Missouri History Museum, and some spots are paired with a nearby place to grab a bite and a drink before or after your visit. While you’re sightseeing, check in to accumulate points for prizes.

Here’s a sneak peek of the architecturally stunning places in the area.

Anheuser-Busch Brewery

The Anheuser-Busch brewery in St. Louis is the company’s flagship brewery. The elaborate, red-brick buildings exemplify German Romanesque architecture, with rounded arches, embellished cornices and castellated rooflines. The interiors of the buildings feature equally beautiful details, and guests can tour the innovative space before taking a seat in the Anheuser-Busch Biergarten and enjoying a cold one – on the house.

Blueberry Hill

Blueberry Hill opened in the Delmar Loop in 1972, as a welcoming hangout with music, food and pop culture memorabilia, including collections of vintage Pez dispensers, Wurlitzer jukeboxes and Chuck Berry artifacts. Chuck Berry, the first person inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, was a good friend of owner Joe Edwards, and after Berry inaugurated the Duck Room – the legendary live music club that opened inside Blueberry Hill in 1997 – he also played here once a month in an unforgettable concert series. Time your visit to coincide with a show that excites you.

Busch Stadium

On April 10, 2006, the St. Louis Cardinals opened their new ballpark in downtown. The retro-style stadium has 46,000 seats, and it became a good luck charm for the home team – the Cardinals became the first team in almost 100 years to win the World Series in the inaugural season of a new ballpark. While you’re here, snap a photo with the bronze statue of Cardinals legend Stan “The Man” Musial, which stands outside the Gate 3 entrance.

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis

Nestled in the Central West End neighborhood, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis is not just a Roman Catholic Church; it’s a distinguished work of art. With its lofty vaults and radiant mosaics, the sheer scale of the building’s beauty is awe-inspiring. In its creation, more than a dozen architects’ and artisans’ concepts coalesced into a magnificently well-integrated and harmonious whole.

City Museum

St. Louis’ City Museum invites visitors to explore the unexpected. A city within a city, the museum’s exhibits consist largely of repurposed architectural and industrial objects, housed in a 10-story, 600,000-square-foot former shoe company warehouse. This is a truly immersive experience, where you can climb into a bow whale’s mouth, slide through enchanted caves, pilot a plane suspended in the air and more.

Field House Museum

In 2007, the Field House Museum was designated a National Historic Landmark; it’s also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been named a St. Louis Landmark. Built in 1850, the red-brick row house was the childhood home of Eugene Field, an American writer best known for his children’s poetry and humorous essays.

Gateway Arch

Completed in 1965, the Gateway Arch is the tallest monument in the U.S., reaching 630 feet high, and a stunning example of mid-century modern architecture. The iconic monument honors the country’s pioneering spirit, and today, up to 6,700 visitors a day can take the tram ride to the top.

Grant’s Farm

In addition to more than 900 animals, Grant’s Farm boasts storied architecture, from Ulysses S. Grant’s humble log cabin to the Busch Family Estate, often referred to as the “Big House,” to the German-style stables and Bauernhof, where guests over 21 are invited to grab a free beer. Everyone can then meet the famous Clydesdales, feed the goats and enjoy the grounds.

With a history as vibrant and colorful as its trademark homes, Lafayette Square is an interesting intersection of past and present in St. Louis city. The 184-year-old neighborhood features tree-lined streets, a picturesque park and numerous eateries and social establishments. Take a leisurely stroll around Lafayette Square to fully appreciate the “Painted Ladies,” meticulously restored 150-year-old Victorian mansions doused in vibrant hues of yellow, salmon, green, blue and purple.

Laumeier Sculpture Park

At Laumeier Sculpture Park, you can enjoy more than 60 sculptures al fresco. Meandering along the walking trail through the 105-acre, open-air museum and sculpture park, you get a close-up view of a huge eyeball, a larger-than-life deer and a pile of massive, crumpled cylinders. You can even walk, climb or sit on some of the large-scale pieces.

Missouri Botanical Garden

Founded in 1859 and deemed a National Historic Landmark, the Missouri Botanical Garden boasts 79 acres of scenic landscaping and historic structures. At the heart of the Garden, the Climatron was the first geodesic dome to be used as a conservatory. Inside the thriving tropical rainforest environment, exotic plants and flowers surround you, sprouting out of seemingly inhospitable rocks and clinging to trees that appear to brush the top of the 70-foot-high dome. Also noteworthy, the new Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center utilizes a biophilic design to create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience.

Missouri History Museum

Explore the storied history of St. Louis, from its founding in 1764 to the present day. The Missouri History Museum, located in Forest Park, has been housed in the Jefferson Memorial Building since 1913. In 2000, the museum gained much-needed exhibition capacity thanks to the Emerson Center expansion, which also boosted attendance. The Emerson Center features a ground-to-roof glass façade to the south, and the American Institute of Architects named the building one of the best examples of viable architecture design solutions that protect and enhance the environment.

Saint Louis Art Museum

Perched atop Art Hill in Forest Park, the Saint Louis Art Museum is known for its outstanding and comprehensive collection, which spans genres and cultures. You can find works by Max Beckmann, Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe and Kehinde Wiley alongside special exhibitions that come and go throughout the year. Before or after your visit, take a moment to look at the Apotheosis of St. Louis, a statue representing King Louis IX of France, the namesake of our city, which dominates the area in front of the museum.

Saint Louis Science Center’s Planetarium

For almost 60 years, the James S. McDonnell Planetarium has dazzled astrophiles from near and far. Connected to the Saint Louis Science Center via the Skybridge over Interstate 64, the planetarium, designed by Gyo Obata, has a hyperbolic, thin-shell concrete roof, which flares out at its base to cover a glass-enclosed exhibition area and perimeter porch. Inside, visitors can relax under the largest artificial sky in the Western Hemisphere, see genuine space capsules and have their questions about the universe answered.

Saint Louis Zoo

A leading animal management, research, conservation and education institution, the Saint Louis Zoo should be at the top of your travel bucket list. At the entrance to the zoo, stop by The Living World, a 65-foot rotunda with natural light from the glass-domed ceiling and an assortment of life-size shark, squid and stingray sculptures. Outside, you’ll also find the Mary Ann Lee Conservation Carousel, featuring 64 hand-carved wooden animals that represent some of the protected and endangered species at the zoo.

Soldiers Memorial Military Museum

Located in downtown St. Louis, this state-of-the-art museum honors local military service members, veterans and their families. The Missouri Historical Society assumed operations of the museum in November 2015 and began a $30 million revitalization of the site in 2016. Thanks to the renovation, the site now has more than double the amount of exhibit space, the four iconic Walker Hancock sculptures framing the entrance are free of coal dust and embedded dirt, the building is LEED-certified to the Gold level and it meets ADA compliance for the first time in the building’s history.

St. Louis Public Library – Central Library

The flagship of the St. Louis Public Library, the Central Library is a monument to the past and a cultural beacon for the future. The historic structure, which occupies a full city block, boasts some of the finest examples of Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical architecture in the U.S.

St. Louis Union Station

Once one of the largest and busiest passenger rail terminals in the world, Union Station is now home to the St. Louis Aquarium, the St. Louis Wheel, a 3D light show in the Grand Hall and more. While you’re here, look for green-glazed terracotta bricks, intricate woodwork and the handcrafted Tiffany stained glass of the Allegorical Window, among other carefully restored details of the 19th-century train station.

The Fabulous Fox

St. Louis audiences flock to The Fabulous Fox to see Broadway shows, Vegas performers, top acts in pop, rock and comedy and classic movies. Located in the Grand Center Arts District, the theater is reminiscent of an opulent palace. The grand lobby was designed in the “Siamese-Byzantine” style, with rows of flanking columns that you would expect to find in rock-cut Buddhist monastery halls. The architecture of the auditorium is equally spectacular, with jewel-studded plasterwork, hand-stenciled walls, gilt paint, intricate cast brass, vibrant fabrics and velvet chairs.

The Griot Museum of Black History

The Griot Museum of Black History, located in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood, reveals the broad scope of Black history and culture. Its mission is to collect, preserve, interpret and share the stories of Black people, highlighting their regional connection to American history and their contributions to the country’s development. The core galleries of The Griot Museum include artifacts, memorabilia and life-size wax figures. Journey inside to see Josephine Baker, Dred and Harriet Scott, James Milton Turner, Miles Davis and more.

We hope that you enjoy exploring these architectural gems in St. Louis. And don’t forget to use the Buildings & Bites pass to check in! As you accumulate points, you can win prizes such as stickers, T-shirts, blankets and the ultimate St. Louis getaway.

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3-Day St. Louis Architecture Tour

• Landmarks Downtown Walking Tour

Gateway Arch

• Gateway Arch Riverboat Cruise

Day 2 You'll See:

City Museum

Union Station

Shrine of St. Joseph

• Scott Joplin House

Day 3 You'll See:

The Fabulous Fox Theatre

Forest Park

St. Louis Art Museum

This 3-day architecture-based itinerary in St. Louis will allow your group to see the best sites of the city on a deeper level than simply 'sightseeing'. Get the inside scoop on some of the city's most iconic landmarks, structures, and attractions, from the Gateway Arch to historic Fox Theatre.

Landmarks Downtown Walking Tour 

While in St. Louis we highly suggest your group takes part in a Landmark Downtown Walking Tour, these tours helping guests learn more about what makes St. Louis such a great city. These tours allow you to explore the fascinating history, culture, and architectural legacy of downtown St. Louis, from the city's first founding days to today! Your expert guides will discuss landmarks and hidden gems along the way, as well as stunning architectural details and the art of historical preservation. These tours take place annually from April to October, normally two times a day each Saturday.  There are also special tours and custom group tour options you can set up outside of that time frame!

The nation's tallest national monument, the Arch is a symbol of St. Louis' station as the Gateway to the West, the motion of westward expansion from the civilized east coast to the undiscovered western frontier. The Gateway Arch rises powerfully from the riverfront Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in downtown St. Louis – near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition - to a towering 630 feet, cutting an imposing silhouette against the city skyline. A quick tram ride the top affords guests an incredible bird’s eye view of up to 30 miles in any direction on a clear day. Be sure your group's visit to the Museum at the Gateway Arch.

Gateway Arch Riverfront Cruise

The most popular cruise in St. Louis? Hands down the One-Hour Sightseeing ‘journey back in time’, the classic cruise offered to guests that show them what it was like in a time in which steamboats ruled the Mississippi, the entire cruise narrated by the captain or local National Park Service Ranger. This cruise ‘highlights the history of St. Louis and the mighty river’s role today’, explaining all surrounding history, wildlife, and architecture along the way.

Housed in a recycled 600,000 square foot shoe company, this constantly evolving “museum” is a wonderful, eclectic fusion of post-apocalyptic playground, midway funhouse, surrealistic treehouse pavilion, and more than four stories of architectural marvel created from ordinary, unique and amazing found objects. The fabulous brainchild of internationally acclaimed artist Bob Cassilly, the City Museum opened for visitors in 1997 to the vigorous roar of approval of young and old, alike. “Grown” from the very stuff of the city, this beyond-awesome St. Louis institution has urban roots deeper than any other...scavenging resources solely within municipal borders for its reclaimed materials and turning them into fantastic playthings and whimsical objets d’art, City Museum boasts fun features like cool salvaged bridges, archaic construction cranes, “actual miles” of tile, and two abandoned planes!

Welcome to the St. Louis Union Station, 'The Grandest Station in the Nation'! This historic St. Louis icon saw its beginning when the first train arrived here September 1st, 1894, changing 'the Gateway to the West' into 'the Gateway to America'. At the time it was one of the largest and busiest passenger rail terminals in the world, seeing its heaviest travel times during the World Fair of 1904 and WWII. Today this stunning feat of architecture combines historic elegance with modern and stunning detail, Union Station featuring luxury hotel rooms, wedding venues and conference areas, and plenty of family-friendly entertainment options. There is truly 'something for everyone' here! Here is a quick list of attractions onsite:

This church, sitting in Columbus Square in St. Louis, began in 1843 when Jesuits founded the parish for mostly German local residents. In 1887 it saw its first major miracle declared in Rome by Cardinal Bianchi. This miracle dealt with Peter Claver and ultimately resulted in a very sick man being completely cured of ailments that should have ended his life. A second miracle was performed during the great Cholera outbreak in St. Louis when prayers were answered and those in the church were not affected by the disease. Today you can take public tours of the gorgeous church each Sunday after Mass. Explore architect George Purvis' astonishingly breathtaking details piece by piece as you visit the Main Altar, Paintings on the Dome, Upper Alter, Mary's Alter, Jesuits Altar, Pipe Organ, and various statues throughout.

Scott Joplin House 

This Italianate architectural gem is located on Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis, first built in 1860. The house served as the home to Scott Joplin and his wife Belle from 1901 to 1903, a time in which Joplin composed several of his greatest pieces. During your visit you will be able to explore the modest flat, furnished as it would have been in 1902, lit by gaslight. See various museum exhibits interpreting his life, then visit the Rosebud Cafe, the eatery and performance venue for the site. The first floor of this 2-story brick building has a bar, piano, and tables for eating (brown bag lunches to catered events), and upstairs has another piano and performance space.

St. Louis’ Fox Theater is one of the most spectacularly lavish sites to see while in the city, this former movie palace is known as ‘one of the most exquisite venues in the country’. Here you and your group can enjoy living touring Broadway shows, concerts, vegas performances, classic movie viewings, and comedians, providing ‘the best of everything and something for everyone’. The Fabulous Fox has seen over 15 million guests come through its grand brass doors, the 56,630 square foot establishment holding a 4,500 guest capacity. As mentioned above, this spot used to be a movie palace first builtin 1929. The regal design follows the Siamese and Byzantine tradition, reopened in 1982 revamped majestically with a beauty unseen anywhere else in St. Louis.

Here you will find over 1370 acres of gorgeous green space to sightsee, learn, and dine, the entire park area holding four different museums, the St. Louis zoo, athletic fields, golf courses, and the iconic World Fair Pavilion. Forest Park is a world-class cultural institution that allows in-depth natural and recreation exploration and even gives your group a good chance to get some exercise in. Eat lunch, visit a museum, and enjoy [arguably] the best park in St. Louis. Did we happen to mention that this park has been here since 1876? Talk about an impressive local history!

Are you looking for an affordable, customized group trip?

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Architectural Tours

Architecture should be joy. Architectural tours should be playful.

When St. Louis needs expert architectural tours, it turns to Preservation Research Office. Our architectural tours combine deep knowledge, routes tailored to each group and a light-hearted storytelling approach. We don’t offer “just the facts” — we put the facts together to connect them to the lives we live today.

We have given tours everywhere from the private places of the Central West End to the forested vacant lot where the Pruitt-Igoe housing projects stood. Buildings are all around us, and any place is worth examining further. We can help you understand a new place or your own neighborhood.

Recently, PRO has provided tours for the St. Louis Art Museum, Washington University, Teach for America, St. Louis University, Fontbonne University, the Missouri History Museum, the Business History Conference, the Rehabbers Club, South City Open Studio and Gallery, Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Nevermore Jazz Ball and other organizations.

PRO Director Michael Allen is a frequent guide for area conferences, with his most recent appearance being a three-hour bus tour of north St. Louis for a sold-out bus at the Monument/Anti-Monument Conference sponsored by the Sculpture City initiative (April 2014). Last year, Allen’s spirited “That Summer Fields Grew High” looked at architecture and agriculture in north city, and drew over 70 participants (August 2013).

Neighborhood Tours

We can guide groups around city neighborhoods, showing significant landmarks and providing general history. Typically, our tours are 90 minutes long, but we can adjust time to suit. Neighborhoods and areas that we routinely tour include Downtown, the Central West End, Midtown, Old North, Tower Grove Park, Hyde Park and the Pruitt-Igoe site.

Walk-On Guide Service

We can guide bus tours for the entire ride, or just part of it. We have experience providing bus tours inclusive of the entire city, or covering architectural themes like mid-century modern houses, public buildings and others.

Want to see a place, neighborhood or part of the region through the eyes of an architectural historian? Work with us to create your own customized architectural tour.

Walking or Bus Tour Planning

Do you have a large, thematic, or complex historic tour in mind?  Let us help you plan your experience to ensure you get the most out of your event.

Guide Training

Are you an aspiring historic guide yourself?  Our staff can help you prepare to be a resourceful, dynamic historic preservation guide who is prepared for anything.  Contact PRO to find out more about our coaching and training services.

Get Started : 314-920-5680 or [email protected].

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Incorporated in 1959, its mission is to preserve, enhance, and promote St. Louis' architectural heritage and to encourage sound planning and good contemporary design.

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