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All the United States Missouri St. Louis Tower Grove Park Pavilions

Tower Grove Park Pavilions

The eccentric and colorful pavilions of Tower Grove park are a beloved and overlooked symbol. 

St. Louis, Missouri

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Delanie Johnson
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Sons of Rest Pavilion.   TMS63112
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Turkish Pavilon.   TMS63112
Lily Pond Shelter.   Arcanophile
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About

These over 150-year-old Victorian-aged pavilions were once called "summer houses," and were places to take shade while walking around the park. Inspired by English pleasure gardens, the park's founder Henry Shaw envisioned Tower Grove as a place for all classes to mingle.

The pavilions are themed, each with its own colors and one-of-a-kind design. Chinese, Turkish, Cyprus, and Roman account for a few of them. Founder Henry Shaw, was an entrepreneur who attributed his wealth to slinging hardware in St. Louis. Retirement took him to Europe, inspiring his eclectic tastes.

Only eight parks in the United States are National Historic Landmarks, making Tower Grove a special place. It has the highest concentration of Victorian pavilions in the world. In 2021, work began to light up all of the pavilions for the park's 150th anniversary. Visitors can even rent a pavilion for the day. 

The 1959 movie The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery featured several scenes filmed in Tower Grove Park. The bank robbers, one of whom was played by a young Steve McQueen, made their plans in a pavilion. 

 

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Victorian Architecture History & Culture

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showmestateofmind

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bigdaddykowalski, Mitch Lang, Ben Faden

  • bigdaddykowalski
  • Mitch Lang
  • Ben Faden

Published

November 8, 2022

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Tower Grove Park Pavilions
4257 Northeast Dr
St. Louis, Missouri, 63110
United States
38.607921, -90.25705
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