History

Stories, Photos and Other Treasures from Our Archive

A Rich History

Today, Lafayette Square stands as one of St. Louis’s most distinctive and beloved neighborhoods. It is known for its beautifully restored Victorian homes, vibrant community life and the historic Lafayette Park at its center. The area’s revival began in the late 1960s and 1970s, when residents launched extensive restoration efforts to preserve its architectural and cultural heritage. In 1972, Lafayette Square became the first historic district designated by the City of St. Louis and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This recognition helped spur decades of reinvestment and revitalization that continue today.

The neighborhood’s renaissance followed a long period of decline in the early and mid-20th century, caused by industrial encroachment, highway construction, and shifting urban trends. Its earlier golden age was cut short by the devastating tornado of 1896, which destroyed many homes and altered the park landscape.

Before the tornado, Lafayette Square had been one of the city’s most fashionable neighborhoods. It was home to ornate Second Empire and Italianate mansions built by some of St. Louis’s wealthiest citizens. The community developed around Lafayette Park, established in 1836 as one of the first public parks west of the Mississippi River and formally named in 1851 to honor the Marquis de Lafayette. Once part of the original St. Louis Common, the park remains the historic and emotional heart of the neighborhood.

Historical Archives

Welcome to the Lafayette Square Archives. This is an effort we aim to sustain over time, collecting, cataloging, and sharing the history of the Square, with a special focus on the years of renewal here; say from 1968 on.

We currently have several hundred documents, 92 house tour booklets, and many photos scanned into pdf format in the archives. We’re collecting more all the time, and will share the stories we uncover in future postings.

Content without context is just a data dump – we’ll try to avoid that.  You’re welcomed and encouraged to submit your own stories and memories to archives@lafayettesquare.org.

The big idea is to develop a deeper appreciation of where we’ve been and how we got here, as a community.

The Lafayette Square Archives blog is a work now in progress. With your input, it will only get better as it develops.

Mike Jones

Managing editor of the Archives section, and a veteran of volunteer stints with the Missouri History Museum and Missouri State Archives. Constantly curious about what lies beneath the surfaces of Lafayette Square.

Archive Database

Search for documents, videos and other historical records pertaining, your community, neighbors, homes, and family.

  • 2020: The Big Dig In Lafayette Square

    Out walking the dog this morning, I was stunned by a discovery at the dig site for the new apartments along Chouteau Avenue. Shovel at [...]

  • 1995 – Ruth Weighs In On A Lafayette Square Milestone

    Ruth Kamphoefner With Some Timely Observations As The LSRC Turns 50 Back in 1995, first-wave restorationist and Lafayette Square MVP Ruth Kamphoefner wrote a tidy [...]

  • 1994 – The Street Names Of Lafayette Square

    Below is a subset from a well-researched history of street names for the City of St Louis. Every name tells a story, and ours in [...]

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    1984 – Restorationist Holiday Cheer From Lafayette Square

    In the December issue of the 1984 Lafayette Square Marquis, Dorothy Strasser of  the Marquis staff (pictured here with husband John at the 1984 Victorian [...]

  • 1971: The Lafayette Square Restoration Plan

    1971 Plan Commission cover The New York Times of May 27, 2021 has a fascinating study into the long term social and economic costs of [...]

  • 1970 – The Birth Of The Lafayette Square Restoration Committee

    From the St Louis Post Dispatch Sunday, April 19, 1970 Gerald J. Meyer of the P-D Staff Editor note: The following article is verbatim, with [...]

  • 1967 – Tales From Two Lafayette Square Pharmacies

    Lafayette Square is conveniently located. You can reach three different interstate highways, headed to who-knows-where, within a couple of minutes. If you want to access [...]

  • 1887 – The Horses and Manure of Lafayette Square

    1887 - The Horses and Manure of Lafayette Square From Globe-Democrat June 5 1887 From Globe-Democrat June 5 1887 Horses are beautiful creatures. [...]

  • 1885 : The Dark And Mysterious Places Of St. Louis

    Among so many, there is a certain wonderful booklet from 1885 in the Mercantile Library, called “The Dark And Mysterious Places Of St Louis.” It’s [...]

  • 1870 – The Steamboat Corner Of Lafayette Square

    Here’s a story about a house…or two, once known as the siamese twin homes of Lafayette Square.   Photo WC Persons; Missouri Historical Society [...]