- City:
- St. Louis, MO
- Site Type:
- Parks and Recreation, Military and Public Safety
- New Deal Agencies:
- Work Relief Programs, Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Description
Extensive rock work was done from locally quarried limestone, building the Grand
Staircase, fireplaces, patios, lily ponds, fencing, and other landscaping items. The site is that of Fort Belle Fontaine, a historic fort initially established on a bluff on the south side of the Missouri River by the French, but important in the War of 1812. The last night of the Lewis and Clark expedition was spent just below the bluff, west of the Changing Rooms. Eleanor Roosevelt visited in 1939. The development was done in part to encourage youths to the Missouri Hills Home for boys.
Source notes
https://www.greatriverroad.com/stlouis/fortbelle.htm https://fortwiki.com/Fort_Belle_FontaineSite originally submitted by Charles Swaney on February 9, 2013.
Contribute to this Site
We welcome contributions of additional information on any New Deal site.
Submit More Information or Photographs for this New Deal Site
Join the Conversation