Memorial Plaza

Memorial Plaza is 1 of 108 St. Louis parks. According to the city website, this is an 11.33 acre park extending from 13th to 18th street east to west between Market and Chestnut. The park was placed into ordinance in 1932.

The park was part of the "urban renewal" that cleared the buildings, homes and businesses for green space from 22nd street to the Mississippi River.

The park is framed by some St. Louis classics including Union Station, Peabody Opera House, Soldier's Memorial Military Museum and the St. Louis Law School.

Union Station

Peabody Opera House

Formerly Kiel Auditorium

Got it punk?

Soldier's Memorial Military Museum

Civil Courts and Scott Hall -SLU Law

The most interesting part of Memorial Plaza is toward the eastern side of the park where there is are granite and stone monuments to each of the foreign wars between WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Names of St. Louisans who served and lost their lives are on display.

There sculptor responsible for WWII Memorial Court is Hillis Arnold (1906-1988):

Hillis Arnold was a leading sculptor of religious art and an advocate of Symbolism and the Expressionist style. Born in Rural Beach, ND in 1906, Arnold lost his hearing at the age of six months due to spinal meningitis. In 1933, Arnold attended the University of Minnesota, winning the Keppel Prize for sculpture. He graduated with a degree in architecture. In 1938, he began teaching sculpture and ceramics at Monticello College (now Lewis and Clark Community College) in Godfrey, IL, where he remained for 34 years. He had exhibits throughout the U.S. and participated in many national competitions. He was renowned for his work in religious and symbolic subject matter, and contributed sculptures to many churches and civic buildings in the Midwest. His work in St. Louis includes the World War II Memorial Court of Honor; Holy Cross Lutheran School for the Deaf; the St. Louis Abbey; and Resurrection Church. He was elected a Live Fellow of the International Institute of Arts and Letters. (source)

There are some areas that are landscaped and appear to be well cared for.

There are smaller monuments donated over the years...

Late 1980's Sweet Meat

The next block, heading west from the Soldier's Memorial, there is a statue dedicated to German poet, playwright and author Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805).

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. (source)

You can read about St. Louis Place Park HERE.

The sculptor was Ernst Rau, architect J. Wilhelm I, contractors Hodges & McCarthy.

Toward the western section, there is really nothing more than trees and grass, and some decaying benches and other park utilities usually commandeered by homeless.