Since 1959, St. Louisans like you have embraced our remarkable architectural heritage and supported Landmarks Association as its advocate.
Historic preservation is a broad field full of challenges and opportunity. The factors that influence preservation are inseparable from larger economic, cultural and political forces. For these reasons, pursuit of our mission requires a diverse array of efforts. Sometimes we have to drop everything to triage acute threats, but most of our work is devoted to creating conditions in which historic buildings can thrive.
The ways that we do this include providing educational and recreational opportunities that emphasize the cultural, societal, economic, and environmental benefits of preservation. We work to support and expand policies like preservation ordinances and historic rehabilitation tax credits. We pursue city landmark designations and submit National Register (NR) nominations. We promote preservation through programs like the Most Enhanced Awards and downtown walking tours. We participate in regulatory review processes to make sure that a local voice is at the table when decisions about St. Louis’ heritage are being made. For example, the Department of Interior has recently included Landmarks as a formal “consulting party” to the regulatory process that will decide the future of the St. Louis Arsenal.
We have just finished cataloguing the Brambila Architecture Library to improve access for researchers and the Landmarks’ Letter continues to expand the body of knowledge that cements St. Louis’s rightful place as a Grand Dame of American architecture. Our library and our decades of research are being used in the federal tornado damage assessment, which may unlock future relief funds. We are also proud that the new NR District we created in the Ville will protect and incentivize redevelopment in that tornado-damaged neighborhood.
In recent years, more of our efforts have returned to brick and mortar work. At the beginning of 2025, our growing loan program made an investment that saved two important historic buildings in Midtown (3221-25 Olive Street) that were slated for demolition. Both buildings were completely rehabilitated by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation and reopened as new businesses last October! At the end of the year, our Preservation Revolving Loan program will grow dramatically thanks to a generous grant from the Robert J. Trulaske Jr. Family Foundation!
This past November, we took ownership of an important corner building at 1000 Morrison in LaSalle Park. Major stabilization efforts are already underway, funded by the revival of a decades-old partnership with Purina! This project will both save the building and pioneer a new redevelopment model that neighborhoods citywide can use to address problem properties.
Landmarks Association is stronger because of your support, and we assert that St. Louis is stronger because of Landmarks Association.
A GIFT OF $50 from every Landmarks member goes a very long way toward ensuring that Landmarks Association can continue to build on its successes in 2026 so that our collective voice will remain loud and clear.
1000 Morrison, c. 1979
