Soldiers’ Memorial Military Museum - St. Louis, Missouri
Soldiers’ Memorial Military Museum - St. Louis, Missouri honors the soldiers who lost their lives in the quest for peace and safety of our country.
The museum is flanked by four Bedford stone sculptures by Walker Hancock. They represent virtues in a soldier’s life-courage and vision stand at the south stairs and loyalty and sacrifice stand at the north stairs. Ornamental pylons on the terrace level name major World War I battles in which St. Louisans participated.
The opportunity to view photos, medals, weaponry, war souvenirs and regalia, posters and medals as well as mannequins wearing uniforms are all available at the museum. You can do research, study history or search for items that may have meaning to you specifically at this location.
Inside the building, a 38-foot high ceiling of mosaic tile tops the loggia area. The tiles form a large gold star dedicated to the mothers of St. Louisans who died in wars. A black granite cenotaph in the center of the loggia is inscribed with the names of 1075 St. Louisans who lost their lives in World War I.
Some of the items included in the display are: A bell from the USS St. Louis dated 1906. A wheel from the cruiser USS St. Louis. World War I military uniform. A US torpedo. Photos, postcards and letters from World War I.
A model of the USS New Jersey. See Spiked helmets from the Germany army.
Across the street from Soldiers’ Memorial is the Court of Honor, an area with several memorials to those who lost their lives in this country’s other wars. The Court was dedicated on Memorial Day 1948. Its red granite tablets hold the names of 2,753 St. Louisans who were killed in that war. On either end of the area are monuments–one honoring the 161 St. Louisans who died in the Korean conflict and the other commemorates the 214 St. Louisans who lost their lives in Vietnam.
Across 14th Street from Soldiers’ Memorial a fire burns in the American Legion’s memorial torch which commemorates the founding of the American Legion in 1919.
The memorial is Handicapped accessible.
Location: 1315 Chestnut St., St. Louis, MO which is downtown at the corner of Chestnut and 14th Street.
Phone: 314-622-4550
Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., daily
Admission: Free
I must say that this is a jewel of St. Louis. And I found myself very upset with the city of St. Louis for the past 2 Memorial Days. The access to this site is prohibited by The Rib America Event. Of all days that this site should be accessible. I was stopped both times and had to argue to get threw to see the Memorial. This year my husband who is a veteran, found the handicaped access fenced off and closed, with handicaped war veterans trying to get in. I sincerely hope that this Memorial will be accessible for all during this years fair. It would be a shame on this city if it would not be open.