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I recently took a look at an enlarged view of Lafayette Park, and came away pretty amazed at what the map recognized.
If you look at a Google map set for a certain level of resolution, you’ll see this:
Not to kick – you get the playground, pathways, grotto, baseball field, and time to walk from the Park lake to my house. But here’s the beauty of the OpenStreetMap at the same resolution:
Lakes! Trees! Bus Stops! The arrows are mine, but don’t strain your eyes while reading this. Here is a brief tour of eight park highlights featured on the map:
1. The antique guns of the HMS Action
These guns, guarding the eastern approach to the Park, came from a British Man-o-War sunk during the Revolutionary War, and presented to Lafayette Park in 1897. The Lafayette Park Conservancy recently restored them. You can find the full story in its booklet, “The Guns of Lafayette Park,” available for $5.00 at most Conservancy events.
2. A park water fountain for all
A place to hydrate on a hot day, equally suitable for pets and pedestrians. It’s conveniently between the Kern Pavilion and playground area.
3. The Greensfelder creative play area
An open spot today; in 1956 it was the nation’s first placement of a conceptual splash fountain, artistic set of colorful concrete cubes and a 10 ton cement spiral slide. It was the gift of local philanthropist AP Greensfelder. More on both here:https://lafayettesquarearchives.com/?p=1069
4. “Max” the frog
Max has sat patiently at the southern edge of the playground for the last fifteen years. Like its partner turtle on the northern edge, it is oversize, realistic and made of concrete. A product of the always fertile mind of late sculptor and longtime resident Bob Cassilly, it is one of a colony of frogs, including one at the New City School and another in a field off Highway 65 near Springfield, Illinois. Ours is named after Bob’s son, and hasproven itself Instagram-worthy for lots of visitors hopping on top
5. The Al Doede memorial duck house
This stylish shelter sits near the southern shore of the big lake. It was built in 1994 as a memorial to one of the first of the new wave of restorationists in Lafayette Square. The neighborhood raised over $4000 to build this version, replacing the original that stood in the same spot since 1874
6. The George Washington statue
A historically significant bronze by Jean Houdon has held this place in the park since 1869. One of an original recasting of five, there is a fascinating history surrounding its origins and placement here. It wasn’t easy to hold on to, and it’s never looked better. You can read more in the booklet, “George Washington In Lafayette Park”. It’s available at most functions of the Lafayette Park Conservancy for $5.00.
7. The bandstand ruins
This is a puzzling site in the park. Until 1951, it was a Victorian eracovered bandstand. Originally placed in 1876, its dome flew off in the great tornado of 1896. The neighborhood quickly rebuilt it, but the glory days of live concerts every Thursday afternoon were over. There is an ongoing effort by the Conservancy to raise funds for its restoration athttps://www.lafayettepark.org/an-introduction-to-lafayette-park/current-projects/
8. The rock garden
Our final stop is variously known as the rockery or rock garden. It’s filled with flowers amid a riot of drusy quartz stones, originally placed in the park during its original landscaping by Max Kern in 1866. This was once a pond with fountain and small waterfalls, but the recessed area now makes it a lovely shady spot in the summer.
So there you are – a map that really takes you places. Lafayette Park has much more to reward your walk – the grotto with its iron bridge, the iconic 1869 fence, Old Police Station, Benton statue, and Civil War history. If you want to get closer to it, consider volunteering for one of the many community projects involved in its upkeep. Gardening, tree trimming and planting, fund raising; these can give you a sense of partnership with the Park. Find the Conservancy at https://www.lafayettepark.org
If you have questions or comments regarding the searchable archives or mapping function on my site https://www.lafayettesquarearchives.com, please either leave me a message there, or at mike@lafayettesquarearchives.com.
Author: Mike
Background in biology but fixated on history, with volunteer stints at MO Historical Society and MO State Archives. Also runs the Lafayette Square Archives at lafayettesquare.org/archives. Always curious about what lies beneath the surface of St Louis history.View all posts by Mike
