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Lafayette Square

View Lafayette Square Listings

Lafayette Square is one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. Aside from the wonderful architecture of its homes (more on that in a bit), the Square is loaded with great spots to relax. With an amazing park, a good selection of bars and restaurants, and an abundance of neat little shops, you can’t go wrong with spending an weekend day (or night) walking its sidewalks.

This neighborhood is located north of I-44, south of Chouteau, east of Jefferson and west of Doleman.
Lafayette Square NeighborhoodLafayette Square Neighborhood Map

Lafayette Square: At one time, this was one of the most fashionable places in all of St. Louis and thanks to its addition to the Register of Historic Places in 1972, there has been a resurgence of vitality to the area. Drop by any weekend between Spring and Fall and you will find residents and visitors walking through the park, shopping along Park Ave, or grabbing a bite to eat at one of many great area restaurants.

To understand the neighborhood today, let’s take a look at the history.

Lafayette Square: what is now regarded as one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the city certainly did not start out that way.  A few hundred years ago Lafayette Square was basically a litter of encampments for criminals and thieves waiting to rob travelers. It was not until 1835 when the city began to sell portions of this land to private owners did things start to turn around. It started with the Board of Alderman electing to set aside 30 or so acres for “community recreation” in an attempt to rid the area of these undesirables. This area became what is now Lafayette Park, names after the Revolutionary War General Marquis de La Fayette. The area around the park would officially become Lafayette Square in 1851 by city ordinance.

Lafayette Park

Frog SculptureA frog sculpture in the children's playground, by Robert Cassilly, who also founded the City Museum in downtown

Frog Sculpture

A frog sculpture in the children’s playground, by Robert Cassilly, who also founded the City Museum in downtown

Old police station in Lafayette Park

Old police station in Lafayette Park

IMG_0879

A statue of George Washington (1732-1799), first President of the United States, installed in 1869. This is one of six copies of the statue by Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741 -1828), a French neoclassical sculptor known for his portraits of Enlightenment figures.

Swan house on an island in the park's lake

Swan house on an island in the park’s lake

Statue of Thomas Hart BentonThomas Hart Benton was a Missouri Senator from 1821 to 1851. He served as the Western United States’—and St. Louis’s—greatest advocate, believing that St. Louis was perfectly positioned to exploit the travel of goods from the rich and growing West to the thriving but waning East. The phrase “There is the East. There is India”, uttered by Benton during a speech, indicated his belief that the western U.S. contained all of the fabled riches of India and more. It is inscribed on the statue honoring him.Statue of Thomas Hart Benton

Statue of Thomas Hart Benton

Thomas Hart Benton was a Missouri Senator from 1821 to 1851. He served as the Western United States’—and St. Louis’s—greatest advocate, believing that St. Louis was perfectly positioned to exploit the travel of goods from the rich and growing West to the thriving but waning East. The phrase “There is the East. There is India”, uttered by Benton during a speech, indicated his belief that the western U.S. contained all of the fabled riches of India and more. It is inscribed on the statue honoring him.Statue of Thomas Hart Benton

In Bloom

In Bloom

Iron bridge spanning a small lake

Iron bridge spanning a small lake

CannonsThese cannons are from the British warship Acteon, which sank while attacking Fort Moultrie during the Revolutionary War

Cannons

These cannons are from the British warship Acteon, which sank while attacking Fort Moultrie during the Revolutionary War

Iron bridge spanning a small lake

Iron bridge spanning a small lake

GazeboThis gazebo can be rented for events

Gazebo

This gazebo can be rented for events

While many of these first homes were smaller in size, this changed in the 1850’s along Lafayette Avenue when a few wealthy individuals purchased land along the Southern end of the park for personal residences. As this was becoming the new “place to live” for the wealthy, real estate developers were not far behind in buying land and building home along the other three borders of the park. This development continues until the 1870’s ad was followed by a rebuilding period after a devastating tornado ravaged the landscape in 1896. With the inclusion of gas stations and grocery stores in the 1920’s and followed by the Great Depression, the area fell into deep disrepair and was regarded as a ghetto and slum.

Similar to other St. Louis City neighborhoods, a group of local citizens with a sense of community spirit and a love of old architecture banded together to form the Lafayette Square Restoration Committee. Their efforts lead Lafayette Square to become the city’s first historic district (by ordinance) and in 1973 the U.S. Congress placed Lafayette Square on the National Register of Historic Places.


Architecture

The majority of the houses in the Lafayette Square district were built before 1900, some dating back to before the Civil War.  The period of greatest construction activity for this district of Second Empire style Victorian town houses was the two decades after 1865. Houses were usually two full stories topped by a third floor mansard roof with dormer windows.  Typical design features were arched doorways and windows, bay windows and ornate cornices.  Facades were faced with limestone or sandstone (sometimes incised plaster) with brick side and rear walls. The largest examples are on Benton Place and Park Avenue north of the park. Elsewhere in the district, houses are smaller although still large by contemporary standards.  Some of the later ones, built during the 1880s, were designed in the Italianate style. After 1890, the prevailing architectural mode turned to houses displaying a Germanic influence, built of red brick featuring wide arches, turrets, classical columned porches and iron balconies.
The Lafayette Square District was entered in the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and became a City historic district in 1972.

Lafayette Square ArchitectureSome of the stone fronted homes w/ mansard roofs of Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square Architecture

Some of the stone fronted homes w/ mansard roofs of Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square ArchitectureStone fronted homes w/ mansard roof

Lafayette Square Architecture

Stone fronted homes w/ mansard roof

Lafayette Square ArchitectureBeautiful deep red brick

Lafayette Square Architecture

Beautiful deep red brick

Lafayette Square ArchitectureSome of the stone fronted homes w/ mansard roofs of Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square Architecture

Some of the stone fronted homes w/ mansard roofs of Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square ArchitectureSome of the stone fronted multi-colored homes of Lafayette Square.

Lafayette Square Architecture

Some of the stone fronted multi-colored homes of Lafayette Square.

Lafayette Square ArchitectureSome of the stone fronted multi-colored homes w/ mansard roofs of Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square Architecture

Some of the stone fronted multi-colored homes w/ mansard roofs of Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square Architecture2-story multi-colored brick homes

Lafayette Square Architecture

2-story multi-colored brick homes

Lafayette Square ArchitectureStone fronted homes w/ mansard roof

Lafayette Square Architecture

Stone fronted homes w/ mansard roof

Lafayette Square ArchitectureNewer construction to match historic standards

Lafayette Square Architecture

Newer construction to match historic standards

Lafayette Square ArchitectureStone fronted homes w/ mansard roof

Lafayette Square Architecture

Stone fronted homes w/ mansard roof

Lafayette Square ArchitectureOne of the large stone homes along Park

Lafayette Square Architecture

One of the large stone homes along Park

Lafayette Square ArchitectureThe Lofts at Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square Architecture

The Lofts at Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square ArchitectureI am not sure which I love more; the gun turret or the walk out patio above the front door

Lafayette Square Architecture

I am not sure which I love more; the gun turret or the walk out patio above the front door

Lafayette Square ArchitectureSome of the stone fronted homes of Lafayette Square.

Lafayette Square Architecture

Some of the stone fronted homes of Lafayette Square.

Lafayette Square Architecture

Lafayette Square Architecture

Lafayette Square ArchitectureRough stone

Lafayette Square Architecture

Rough stone

Lafayette Square ArchitectureI love the curved window tops and accent colors!

Lafayette Square Architecture

I love the curved window tops and accent colors!

Lafayette Square ArchitectureSome of the stone fronted multi-colored homes of Lafayette Square.

Lafayette Square Architecture

Some of the stone fronted multi-colored homes of Lafayette Square.

Around the Neighborhood:

Rue Lafayette

Rue Lafayette

Eleven Eleven MississippiEleven Eleven Mississippi Website

Eleven Eleven Mississippi

Eleven Eleven Mississippi Website

Lafayette Square Community Gardencreated in 1997 at the corner of Park and Dolman Avenues in Lafayette Square, is dedicated to developing community, healthy eating and to the generation of wild ideas and imaginings among its gardeners. In past years gardeners have grown a multitude of vegetables, spices and annual flowers; there have been paper makers, natural dye makers and herbalists. Whatever your interests, we welcome you to join us on a first come first served basis.

Lafayette Square Community Garden

created in 1997 at the corner of Park and Dolman Avenues in Lafayette Square, is dedicated to developing community, healthy eating and to the generation of wild ideas and imaginings among its gardeners. In past years gardeners have grown a multitude of vegetables, spices and annual flowers; there have been paper makers, natural dye makers and herbalists. Whatever your interests, we welcome you to join us on a first come first served basis.

Lafayette Square Community Gardencreated in 1997 at the corner of Park and Dolman Avenues in Lafayette Square, is dedicated to developing community, healthy eating and to the generation of wild ideas and imaginings among its gardeners. In past years gardeners have grown a multitude of vegetables, spices and annual flowers; there have been paper makers, natural dye makers and herbalists. Whatever your interests, we welcome you to join us on a first come first served basis.

Lafayette Square Community Garden

created in 1997 at the corner of Park and Dolman Avenues in Lafayette Square, is dedicated to developing community, healthy eating and to the generation of wild ideas and imaginings among its gardeners. In past years gardeners have grown a multitude of vegetables, spices and annual flowers; there have been paper makers, natural dye makers and herbalists. Whatever your interests, we welcome you to join us on a first come first served basis.

Lafayette Square Community Gardencreated in 1997 at the corner of Park and Dolman Avenues in Lafayette Square, is dedicated to developing community, healthy eating and to the generation of wild ideas and imaginings among its gardeners. In past years gardeners have grown a multitude of vegetables, spices and annual flowers; there have been paper makers, natural dye makers and herbalists. Whatever your interests, we welcome you to join us on a first come first served basis.

Lafayette Square Community Garden

created in 1997 at the corner of Park and Dolman Avenues in Lafayette Square, is dedicated to developing community, healthy eating and to the generation of wild ideas and imaginings among its gardeners. In past years gardeners have grown a multitude of vegetables, spices and annual flowers; there have been paper makers, natural dye makers and herbalists. Whatever your interests, we welcome you to join us on a first come first served basis.

Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square

Square One Brewerylocated at the corner of Park Avenue & 18th Street in Lafayette Square, we offer hand-crafted beers, spirits & a casual dining experience for all to enjoy Square One Brewery Website

Square One Brewery

located at the corner of Park Avenue & 18th Street in Lafayette Square, we offer hand-crafted beers, spirits & a casual dining experience for all to enjoy Square One Brewery Website

Businesses along Park

Businesses along Park

Sqwireslocated in the historic Lafayette Square neighborhood, in the former Western Wire Factory, SqWires’ setting is a picture-perfect renovation of an old Victorian building. Sqwires Website

Sqwires

located in the historic Lafayette Square neighborhood, in the former Western Wire Factory, SqWires’ setting is a picture-perfect renovation of an old Victorian building. Sqwires Website

Businesses Along Park

Businesses Along Park

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about-dan

"As a community specialist, I match buyers with homes and sellers with the marketing and pricing advice that sells."

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601 E Lockwood Avenue
Webster Groves, MO 63119

3353 Roger Place
St. Louis, MO 63116

8151 Clayton Rd. Suite 301
Clayton, MO 63117

M | 314.452.8211
O | 314.352.5200
E | info@danbrassil.com

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