Landmarks Downtown Walking Tours

22/10/2024

Saturday is your last chance this year to go on Landmarks East or West Downtown Walking Tour! Luckily, the weather will be excellent for a walk around downtown. Our experienced guides will show you a selection of our city's most interesting buildings and relate the history and the stories of the citizens and architects who built them. You'll hear fascinating stories about the development of St. Louis including the roles women and minorities played as well as our founding fathers. The history behind such architectural icons as the Old Courthouse, Wainwright Building, Old Cathedral, Eads Bridge, Union Station, Central Library, Campbell House and many other buildings will come to life!

The next public tour season begins April 5, 2025 so don’t miss this Saturday’s Tours. Visit https://landmarkstours-stl.org/ for complete details and to purchase tickets.

15/10/2024

This Saturday is your second to last chance to go on the Landmarks Downtown Walking Tours this season. It will be a bright sunny morning so don't miss this opportunity to hear all about the history and architecture of these buildings and the great stories of the development of St. Louis.

See these buildings and many more on Landmarks Downtown Tours, every Saturday morning through October. Visit https://landmarkstours-stl.org/ for complete details and to purchase tickets.

08/10/2024

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis was built in 1923 by the architecture firm of Mauren, Russell and Crowell. The building is a typical example of 1920s government buildings. It is faced with cut limestone with detailed carvings with eagles and the seals of the states that are within the bank's territory. It is just one of the many significant and architecturally interesting buildings on Landmarks' East Tour.

On Landmarks' West Tour, Campbell House offers a fabulous example of Victorian architecture. Built in 1851, the first house in the elegant Lucas Place neighborhood, it was the home of one of St. Louis' renowned fur traders.

See these buildings and many more on Landmarks Downtown Tours, every Saturday morning through October. Visit https://landmarkstours-stl.org/ for complete details and to purchase tickets.

02/10/2024

The Central Library building in Downtown West, designed by Cass Gilbert in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, was built in 1912 on a location formerly occupied by the St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall. The spectacular building, partially funded by Andrew Carnegie, has an oval central pavilion surrounded by four light courts. The outer facades of the free-standing building are of lightly rusticated Maine granite. The Olive Street front is disposed like a colossal arcade, with contrasting marble bas-relief panels. A projecting three-bay central block, like a pared-down triumphal arch, provides a monumental entrance.

Directly across the street to the east sits Christ Church Cathedral. The 14th Century English Gothic style building was started in 1860 but was interrupted by Civil War. It is only ten feet shorter in height than Westminster Abbey.

See both remarkable buildings and many more on the Landmarks Downtown West Walking Tour. East and West Tours are held every Saturday morning through October. Visit https://landmarkstours-stl.org/ for complete details and to purchase tickets.

Walking Tour. East and West Tours are held every Saturday morning through October. Visit https://landmarkstours-stl.org/ for complete details and to purchase tickets.

11/09/2024

St Louis has some of the most unique Downtown buildings of just about any US city. Find out fascinating details about St. Louis history, culture and architecture when you take a fun walk with our experienced guides on a Landmarks Downtown St. Louis Walking Tour every Saturday morning through October. Visit https://landmarkstours-stl.org/ for complete details and to purchase tickets.

04/06/2024

02/04/2024

This Saturday! Landmarks Downtown Walking Tours begin the 2024 season! Enjoy Spring in St. Louis, get some exercise and learn about our unique history, culture, and architecture! You'll be amazed at what you don't know about Downtown. Visit https://landmarkstours-stl.org/ for complete details and to purchase tickets.

24/08/2023

Fur Exchange Building on Landmarks Downtown East Tour. Learn more about the history and architecture of Downtown St. Learn more about the history and architecture of Downtow St. Louis from our experienced guides on Landmarks Downtown Walking Tours every Saturday morning through October. Visit https://landmarkstours-stl.org/ for complete details and to purchase tickets. The weather will be perfect for a walk downtown this Saturday!

02/08/2023

Kiener Plaza in Downtown St. Louis. Sculpture The Olympic Runner dominates the Plaza, framed by the Old Courthouse and the Arch. Learn more about the history and architecture of Downtown St. Louis from our experienced guides on Landmarks Downtown Walking Tours every Saturday morning through October. Visit https://landmarkstours-stl.org/ for complete details and to purchase tickets.

06/07/2023

The East Landmarks Downtown Walking Tour features the building at 7th and Market built by the lauded 20th century architect Philip Johnson. Built in 1977 for General American Life , it is one of Johnson’s notable buildings. Learn more about the architect and building from Landmarks’ experienced tour guides every Saturday through October. LandmarksTours-stl.org

20/06/2023

This statue of Dred and Harriet Scott stands in front of the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis where their suit for emancipation was famously tried and lost. Learn more about the Scotts, the Old Courthouse and many other architectural and historical landmarks on the Landmarks Association’s Downtown Walking Tours every Saturday through October. For complete info and to purchase tickets visit https://landmarkstours-stl.org/

09/06/2023

The Old Cathedral was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi River when the construction of its first building began in 1770. It is now surrounded by the Gateway Arch National Park. Learn more about the area’s fascinating history and architecture with Landmark’s Downtown Walking Tours every Saturday through October. For complete details and to purchase tickets visit https://landmarkstours-stl.org/

30/05/2023

If you saw the movie Monuments Men, written and direct by George Clooney, you know those brave Allies were tasked with finding and saving pieces of art and cultural heritage before they were destroyed by the N***s. One of those men, sculptor Walter Hancock, created the four monumental sculptural groups on the north and south sides of the Soldiers Memorial bulding on Market Street in downtown St. Louis. To learn more about the Soldiers Memorial take a Landmark Downtown Walking Tour any Saturday through October. Visit https://landmarkstours-stl.org/ for more information and to purchase tickets.

10/05/2023

The Wainwright Building, designed by Louis Sullivan is widely considered to be the prototype of the skyscraper, not because of its height, but because of its use of a steel skeleton under the ornate masonry exterior.

Prior to this, tall buildings were dependent on the thickness and strength of the masonry components of the lower floors to carry the weight of the higher floors.

You can learn more about the Wainwright and other historic downtown architecture on the Landmarks Downtown East Walking Tour. Tickets are available at landmarkstours-stl.org

13/04/2022

Frankie Muse Freeman was a civil rights attorney and the first woman named to the US Commission on Civil Rights. She challenged discrimination in public housing here in St. Louis and you can visit this St. Louis icon in Kiener Plaza.

03/04/2022

Pianola time! The Balmer and Weber Music House was constructed in 1905 and had an exclusive deal with the Aeolian Co to sell their merchandise.

01/04/2022

The American Zinc, Lead and Smelting Company building is clad in stainless steel, the same material as the Arch. Completed in 1967, see this unique building on our East tour. Tours every Saturday!

27/03/2022

Three cheers for spring!

22/03/2022

Walking tours! tours

01/10/2021

Time is almost out to take a Downtown Walking Tour this year! Take in the sights and fall weather with us Saturdays in October - https://landmarkstours-stl.org/

01/09/2021

127 years ago today was the grand opening of Union Station. It’s older than Penn Station and Grand Central Station, and it is the first stop on our West tour!

26/08/2021

Get your tickets today for upcoming walking tours! See Downtown STL and learn a little something from our experienced guides. https://landmarkstours-stl.org/

13/08/2021

Additional floors had to be added to the Arcade building to bring in income needed to fix the foundation (quicksand!) issues.

06/08/2021

The surrounding neighborhood was demolished starting in 1953 but St. John the Apostle is still here. See on our West Tour!

20/07/2021

It's tour time baby! Get out and see your Downtown St. Louis - this Saturday at 10am. Tickets at https://landmarkstours-stl.org/