St. Louis City Parks
Ornamental Structures
&
Fountains

AMERICAN LEGION WORLD WAR II COMMEMORATIVE DRINKING FOUNTAIN
LOCATION: MEMORIAL PLAZA
History: One continuously operating bubbling fountain donated to the City by the American Legion in 1944.

APOTHEOSIS OF ST. LOUIS
LOCATION: FOREST PARK, NORTH OF ART MUSEUM
SCULPTOR: CHARLES NIEHAUS
History: This statue of the Crusader King Louis IX of France, was for for the emblem of the city, appearing on most official documents and the city flag, but now it shares its prominence with the Gateway Arch. The original plaster model of the statue stood at the main entrance gate of the 1904 Fair, where the Jefferson Memorial is now located. This statue and the Jefferson Memorial were given to the City in 1906 as gifts in appreciation for the great success of the Fair. The Crusader is clad in 13th Century armor and is depicted as going into battle with an inverted sword symbolizing a cross.

EDWARD BATES STATUE
LOCATION: FOREST PARK, WESTERN SIDE OF THE PARK NEAR CASCADES
SCULPTOR: J. WILSON MCDONALD
History: This statue was dedicated in 1876 concurrently with the official dedication of Forest Park, and thus was the first statue to be installed in the park. The original location was at the southeast entrance, but when Highway 40 was expanded, the entrance was obliterated, and the statue moved to its current location. Bates was a lawyer and rose to the position of Attorney General in President Lincoln's Cabinet from 1961-1964. He was also a prominent Missouri politician. The medallions on the pedestal were added at a later date and depict Captain James Eads, Governor Hamilton R. Gamble, Charles Gibson, and Henry S. Geyer.

THOMAS HART BENTON STATUE
LOCATION: LAFAYETTE PARK, MISSOURI & LAFAYETTE
SCULPTOR: HARRIET HOSMER
History: The statue is said to be the first public memorial in St. Louis. At the unveiling, all schools and businesses were closed and 30,000 people attended filling Lafayette Park. Thirty cannons were fired, one for each year of Benton's service as a Senator. Benton was an advocate of the transcontinental railroad. During a meeting of the Pacific Railroad Company in St. Louis in 1849, under the rotunda of the Old Courthouse, he made a speech wherein he exclaimed, "there is the East, there is India," by which he tried to convince the railroad and St. Louis that the wealth to be found the West was like the fabled riches of India. The works are inscribed in the front surface of the pedestal. The statue was dedicated in 1868 and was donated by the Missouri Legislature, private and public funds.

LOUIS G. "MIDGE" BERRA BUST & FOUNTAIN
LOCATION: BERRA PARK, SHAW & MACKLIND
History: The park and monument honor Midge Berra, who was a long time strong political force in the South St. Louis area. The statue was donated by the Hill Association and dedicated in June of 1968.

FREIDRICH HECKER MONUMENT
LOCATION: BENTON PARK, JEFFERSON & ARSENAL
SCULPTOR - CHARLES STEUBENRAUGH
History: Hecker was one of the German Revolutionalists who came to St. Louis in the 1840s. There is a small bronze bust of Hecker on the north side and a wreath of oak leaves on the south side. The west and east sides are inscribed the dates 1861 and 1848. The monument was donated by the Hecker Monument Commission in September 1882.

FRANK BLAIR STATUE
LOCATION: FOREST PARK, LINDELL & KINGSHIGHWAY ENTRANCE
SCULPTOR: WELLINGTON W. GARDNER
History: The statue commemorates Blair's work as a United States Senator. As a General he seized the U.S. Arsenal at St. Louis and kept the City and a large part of Missouri from joining the Confederacy. The statue, in its prominent location, is said to have a place in Winston Churchill's book "the Inside of the Cup." The statue was donated by the Blair Monument Association in May of 1885.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE
LOCATION: TOWER GROVE PARK, KINGSHIGHWAY & ARSENAL
SCULPTOR: FERDINAND VON MILLER II
History: the Columbus Statue was the last of the three figures done by Von Miller for Tower Grove park and the first statue of Columbus erected in the United States. The day of the dedication, October 12, 1886, was on the 394th Anniversary of Columbus' finding of the New World. The side plaques depict LaSalle at Cahokia, February 12, 1682, and Columbus's Landing, October 12, 1492. The statue was donated by Henry Shaw.

COLONIAL DAUGHTER FOUNTAIN
LOCATION: FOREST PARK, JEWEL BOX GARDENS
History: The fountain was donated by the Missouri Society of Colonial Daughters and dedicated in 1947.

CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL
LOCATION: FOREST PARK, LINDELL & CONFEDERATE DRIVE
SCULPTOR: GEORGE JULIAN ZOLNAY
History: At the upper part of the shaft is carved an allegorical figure of the "Angel of the Confederacy." The bronze relief depicts a southern family about to send its only adult male into the War. On the rear is a quote from Robert E. Lee. The memorial was donated by the Ladies Confederate Monument Association and the statue was dedicated in December of 1914.

JOIE DE VIVRE
LOCATION: FOREST PARK, NEAR STEINBERG SKATING RINK
SCULPTOR: JACQUES LIPCHITZ
History: The statue was donated by Mrs. Mark C. Steinberg. The sculptor Jacques Lipchitz was born in Lithuania in 1891, studied art in Paris in 1909 and moved to the United States in 1941. The statue was executed in 1927, and seven casts of the figure have been made. The inspiration for the work resulted from a serious illness of his sister. He hoped that by creating a form possessing gaiety and vibrancy, he would be able to help her hold onto life.

JOHN F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL FOREST MARKERS
LOCATION: FOREST PARK, SOUTHWEST CORNER
History: The marker was donated by readers of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The area, dedicated after President Kennedy's tragic death, is the only area of virgin forest remaining in Forest Park.

STATUE OF THE NAKED TRUTH
LOCATION: COMPTON HILL RESERVOIR PARK, S. GRAND & RUSSELL
SCULPTOR: WILLIAM WANDSCHNEIDER
History: The monument honors three great German newspaper editors of the St. Louis Westliche Post; Carl Schurz, Dr. Emil Preetorius & Carl Danzier. The revealing statue is quite naturally a symbol of truth and the torches symbolize the enlightment of the German and American alliances. The inscription at the rear is in both German and American language. The statue was unveiled in May of 1914.

JEWISH FIRST AMERICAN SETTLEMENT COMMEMORATIVE MONUMENT
LOCATION: FOREST PARK
SCULPTOR: KURT PERISEE
History: The monument celebrates the 300th Anniversary of the founding of the first Jewish settlement in New Amsterdam in 1654. The main figures represent freedom from tyranny, freedom from fear of war, freedom from want, and freedom of religion in the United States. The dove represents peace, as does the man setting under the olive tree. The three figure grouping depicts a widow, a stranger and the fatherless, for whom, in Jewish tradition, there is a corner of the field always set aside. the bat is a model of the first ship which brought the Jewish settlers in 1654. The monument was donated by the Jewish Tercentenary Committee in 1956.

NATHAN FRANK BANDSTAND
LOCATION: FOREST PARK
History: The design is in the classical style in the Ionic order. Its beauty lies in its elegant simplicity. The bandstand was donated by Nathan Frank in 1926.

FRIEDRICH JAHN MEMORIAL
LOCATION: FOREST PARK
SCULPTOR: ROBERT CAUER
History: The monument is placed on the site occupied by the German pavilion during the 1904 World's Fair. Jahn was the father of systematic physical culture and founder of the Turnvereins. The bust is generally considered out of proportion with the accompanying statues. The monument was donated by the North American Turnverein, St. Louis Chapter and was unveiled in October of 1913.

THOMAS JEFFERSON STATUE
LOCATION: FOREST PARK, JEFFERSON MEMORIAL ROTUNDA
SCULPTOR: KARL BITTER
History: The sculptor had the block of Italian marble weighing 45 tons shipped to the site, and placed on the pedestal where it was carved in total. It was thought that this would insure against any breakage or damage in shipment. The artist used a study of twelve paintings by William Curtis entitled the "True Thomas Jefferson" to arrive at a clear indication of the President's true personal appearance and character. The statue was unveiled in official ceremonies in April of 1913, two days after the public opening of the Jefferson memorial Building. the original sketch for the statue can be found in the Art Museum. The dressed weight of the figure is 16 tons.

MUSICIANS MEMORIAL & FOUNTAIN
LOCATION: FOREST PARK
SCULPTOR: VICTOR HOLM
History: The memorial honors Owen Miller and Otto Ostendorf, Secretary and Treasurers respectively of the Federation of Musicians for many years. The fountain was donated by the National Federation of Musicians, St. Louis Local Chapter, and was dedicated in May of 1925.

KIENER MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN & RUNNER STATUE
LOCATION: KIENER PLAZA
SCULPTOR: WILLIAM ZORACH
History: The fountain and statue were donated by Harry J. Kiener and dedicated in October of 1966. Kiener was born in St. Louis on February 27, 1881. He was an amateur boxer, wrestler and swimmer, but he is most noted for his position on the U.S. track team at the Olympics held in St. Louis in 1904, during the World's Fair. While his main occupation was a steel company executive, he was very generous throughout his life. He served on the Zoological Board of Control and was active at the Shriners Hospital.

LUCAS GARDENS & MARGERET R. KINKAID DRINKING FOUNTAIN
LOCATION: LUCAS GARDENS
SCULPTOR: NANCY COONSMAN HAHN
History: The park was donated in memory of John B.C. Lucas in order that a permanent monument contributing to the ornament and health of the City be established. The fountain was provided by the estate of Mrs. Kinkaid of Louisiana, Missouri, who allocated $4,000 for a drinking fountain in "some public park in St. Louis." Originally the fountain was to be used for watering horses, but it was decided that it would be more in keeping with Mr. Lucas' intentions to develop the area for the relaxation of the citizens. The fountain is decorated with six small children. The water bubbles from four dolphin's heads at the top and there originally was a sundial in the middle. The benches were once finely detailed and are supported by crouching elves.

GENERAL GRANT STATUE
LOCATION: WASHINGTON PARK
SCULPTOR: ROBERT PORTER BINGHORST
History: The sculptor, Robert Binghorst, was said to be the first professional sculptor to reside in St. Louis, and the statue is the earliest to be erected in the downtown area which still stands today. Many historians say that the six years General Grant spent in St. Louis were the most miserable in his life. He married a St. Louis woman, Julia Dent and soon after resigned from the Army in 1854. He tried to farm some land on Gravois, presently know in part today as Grant's Farm, but the land was a meager producer and nickednamed "Hardscrabble." He finally moved to supervise a plantation owned by his father-in-law, and from there eventually found his way to Washington and with the help of the Civil War became the 18th President of the United State. The plaque at the front of the statue depicts the Battle of Lookout Mountain. The statue was donated by the Grant Monument Association of Missouri and was dedicated in October of 1888.

PIERRE LACLEDE STATUE
LOCATION: WASHINGTON PARK
SCULPTOR: GEORGE JULIAN ZOLNAY
History: The statue was inspired by the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the incorporation of St. Louis as a City in 1909 and was donated by the St. Louis Centennial Association. The visage is not an attempt at a likeness, but the pioneer character is instead represented. The composition depicts Laclede stepping from his boat to the bank to found St. Louis. The statue was unveiled in May of 1914.

GENERAL NATHANIEL LYON MONUMENT
LOCATION: LYON PARK
SCULPTOR: ADOLPHUS DRUIDING
History: The monument, an obelisk, is located in this park dedicated to Lyon, especially because of its proximity to the U.S. Arsenal which Lyon saved from attack by Confederate forces. General Lyon's portrait is cast on the frontal bronze plaque. At the rear, is a mythological figure holding symbols of war and justice, with a lion in the background. The monument was donated by the Lyon Monument Association in 1874.

GENERAL NATHAN LYON STATUE
LOCATION: LYON PARK
SCULPTOR: CHARLES STEUBENRAUGH
History: St. Louis was free of any important confrontation during the Civil War except the Camp Jackson incident. The then Captain Lyon suspected a Confederate conspiracy militia group headed by General Daniel Frost to be planning an attack from Camp Jackson. He disguised himself as a woman and drove about the camp grounds at night and from the vast amounts of ammunition stored there, he was convinced that they were planning an attack on the U.S. Arsenal on South Broadway. If such an attack would have been successful, St. Louis would have undoubtedly become part of the Confederacy. The next day Lyon collected 6,000 troops and surprised the sleeping camp and forced its surrender without a shot being fired. The statue was installed in 1929 and subsequently moved to its current location in 1960.

THE MEETING OF THE WATERS (MILLES) FOUNTAINS
LOCATION: ALOE PLAZA
SCULPTOR: CARL MILLES
History: The ground work and inspiration for the Milles Fountains came from the 11 year efforts of Mrs. Louis P. Aloe. She became familiar with Carl Milles' work at an exhibition of modern art held in St. Louis in 1930, and there she was inspired to have a great fountain built in the city designed by Milles. The allegorical fountain depicts the marriage procession of the Mississippi (male figure) and the Missouri (female figure) Rivers. Accompanying the couple are 17 water sprites, symbolic of the smaller streams that empty into the two larger rivers.

SOLDIER'S MEMORIAL EQUESTRIAN FIGURES
LOCATION: MEMORIAL PLAZA
SCULPTOR: WALTER HANCOCK
History: The figures on the south side represent Courage (male) and Vision (female). On the north side are Loyalty (male) and Sacrifice (female). The designer, Walter Hancock was a native St. Louisian at the time. The statues were part of the total design of the Soldiers Memorial. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the site for the building on October 14, 1936, and Mayor Dickmann officially opened the doors on Memorial Day, 1938.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR CANNONS
LOCATION: LAFAYETTE PARK
History: The cannons, two "Long Toms" and a "Carronade," were part of the munitions of the 50-gun British frigate "Acteon. the ship entered Charleston Harbor in 1776 to bomb Fort Moultrie but went aground and was quickly attacked by American ships which bombed its magazine and sunk it. In 1887, a steamer had its prow ripped open by the unseen wreckage and divers were sent to investigate the obstruction. The ship was verified as the Acteon and the cannons were retrieved and auctioned. The three presented to Lafayette Park were bought by the Missouri Commander of the Loyal Legion.

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI STATUE
LOCATION: FOREST PARK, JEWEL BOX GARDENS
SCULPTOR: CARL MOSE
History: The statue donated by Mrs. Turner is a memorial to here husband, Harry Turner. Mr. Turner was one of the first automobile dealers in St. Louis, and also raced his cars at Fairground Park. He was the publisher and chief writer for a controversial magazine called, "Much Ado," which was in frequent disagreements with the Postal Authorities. His death was sudden, as he drowned in the Mississippi one night, having jumped off a boat. The statue stands at the edge of one of the pools under a grouping of pine trees at the entrance to the Jewel box. The sitting is very appropriate and the statue one of the artist's best.

ST. LOUIS AWARD PINE TREE
LOCATION: FOREST PARK, GOVERNMENT HILL
SCULPTOR: KENT ADDISON
History: The area and award marker was established by David P. Wohl to honor annually those who have made the most outstanding contribution to the Metropolitan St. Louis area. The marker was donated by David P. Wohl in 1965.

JOHANN SCHILLER STATUE
LOCATION: SCHILLER PLAZA
SCULPTOR: ERNEST RAU
History: The statue is an exact reproduction of the statue in Marback, Germany; Schiller's birthplace. Schiller was a noted German Poet. The statue was donated by Col. Charles G. Stifel. It was originally installed in November of 1898 at St. Louis Place Park. It was moved to its current location in the 1970's.

THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY TABLET
LOCATION: JEFFERSON MEMORIAL ROTUNDA
SCULPTOR: KARL BITTER
History: The tablet represents Monroe, Living and Marbois signing the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, April 30, 1903. Monroe is on the left, behind the chair, and Livingston is seated, while Marbois signs the treaty. The inscription reads, "The instrument we have signed will cause no tears to flow. It will prepare centuries of happiness for innumerable generations of the human race. The Mississippi and Missouri will see them prosper and increase in the might of equality under just laws, freed from the errors of superstition, from the scourges of bad government and truly worthy of the regard and care of Providence." The tablet was donated by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Co. and was unveiled in 1913.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE STATUE
LOCATION: TOWER GROVE PARK
SCULPTOR: FERDINAND VON MILLER II
History: The statue was unveiled on the 314th birthday of the poet in 1878. The four plaques depict characters in his plays; Ben DeBar, the St. Louis actor of Falstaff; Hamlet, the Gravedigger scene; Queen Katherine meeting her accusers; and Lady Macbeth.

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR MEMORIAL
LOCATION: CIVIL COURTS BUILDING, N.W. CORNER
SCULPTOR: VICTOR HOLM
History: The original proposal for the memorial involved a commercial bronze figure of a soldier supposedly fighting in the Spanish American War, called "the hiker," and designed by Alice Ruggles Kitson. The cost of the manufactured figure was to be $10,000. The resulting design was by the local sculptor Victor Holm. On the pedestal are carved three allegorical figures representing loyalty, courage and victory. On the 12th Street side is a bronze plaque.

STATUES TO SCULPTURE & PAINTING
LOCATION: FOREST PARK, ART MUSEUM (OUTSIDE)
SCULPTOR: DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH (SCULPTURE)
LOUIS SAINT-GAUDENS (PAINTING)
History: These two pieces were originally done in plaster for the World's Fair of 1904, and the artists were commissioned to reproduce the models in marble immediately afterward. They occupy the same location as they did in the Fair, with Sculpture on the West and Painting to the East.

ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT STATUE
LOCATION: TOWER GROVE PARK
SCULPTOR: FERDINAND VON MILLER II
History: Humboldt was a noted scientist, natural philosopher and author. His five volume work "Cosmos" is a noted scientific work. The north plaque depicts Mt. Chimbarazo, the summit of which he was the first white man to reach. The south plaque shows the valley of the Amazon, the he also explored. The rear plaque was a portrait medallion of Henry Shaw, which is presently in a glass cabinet at the Henry Shaw Tennis Court Pavilion in Tower Grove.

BARON FREIDRICH WILHELM VON STEUBAN
LOCATION: TOWER GROVE PARK
History: Steuben was a Prussian Officer who served in the Seven years War. In 1762 he became an aid to Frederick the Great. By 1777, he was convinced to come to the United States to train troops in Washington's continental Army. In his left hand in the statue, is a drill manual, and at his side is a depiction of the character of the raw recruits.

GEORGE WASHINGTON STATUE
LOCATION: LAFAYETTE PARK
SCULPTOR: ANTOINE HOUDEN
History: This statue is regarded by many as the most valuable single piece of sculpture in St. Louis. It is one of six castings taken from the marble original which stands in the Virginia State Capital Building. Houden carved the figure during personal settings with the President. The statue was donated by the Lafayette Park Neighborhood Association and dedicated in 1873.

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL COURT OF HONOR
LOCATION: MEMORIAL PLAZA
SCULPTOR: HILLIS ARNOLD
History: The memorial was donated by the St. Louis War Memorial Committee of the City of St. Louis and dedicated in May of 1948.