“From April 1936 through the early 1940s, Depression-era government make-work programs brought improvements to the cemetery. Works Progress Administration (WPA) laborers were responsible for building 23,000’ of hard-surfaced roads and walks, 46,000’ concrete curbs, nearly 16,000’ of “asphalt macadam” roads,… read more
Notes: The Jefferson Junior High Auditorium was Federal Public Works Project N. 3701, erected in 1934. It is a multi-use Auditorium for stage productions and sporting events, particularly basketball. The seating was replaced within the last 10 years, but there… read more
The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is a large park along the Mississippi River maintained by the National Park Service. It contains the iconic St. Louis Gateway Arch. The construction of the park lasted for multiple decades. The WPA and the… read more
The PWA constructed this school in 1938. It was a well-maintained large school project ($358,000 total for both this and the Garfield School) that is currently in use as Jefferson Elementary School. The school it is located on the north… read more
Jennings High School is a single story school constructed in 1941, possibly by the WPA. It is still in use, but has been significantly added onto since its construction.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed Jensen Point in 1939, overlooking Route 66. The park closed to the public in the 1990s and reopened in 2016.
In 1936, the PWA built Damel Hall, named after John W Damel, who taught at Lincoln University for more than 40 years. Damel Hall was built to house the “Mechanics Arts Department” and currently houses computer sciences and other technology… read more
This small municipal park was built by the WPA in 1939. It was developed on a reclaimed dump site and contains about .5 acres, is an open space and park for the adjacent school.
The school addition from 1939 has been completely surrounded by subsequent additions and the top of walls and the roof are the only parts that can be seen from the outside, immediately behind the original building with present use as… read more
The armory was named after James Rieger, a lawyer who was enlisted in the National Guard in about 1900 and who served with high distinction in WWI at the Meuse-Argonne offensive which was the decisive battle of WWI and for… read more
The clinic building is on the south side of the main downtown district of Kirksville, just east of the Northeast Regional Medical Center. This building was initially used for patient clinics by the osteopathic school, but now houses offices primarily.
This lookout tower was built as a New Deal project, potentially by the CCC, but the agency in charge is not known definitively. The tower is accessible about halfway up to an observation platform and is about 1 mile off… read more
“Knob Noster State Park is named for the nearby town which itself is named for one of two small hills or “knobs” that rise up in an otherwise flat section of Missouri. A local Indian belief stated that the hills… read more
This courthouse has a classic revival design with minimal ornamentation, though the light fixtures in the front are art deco.
This PWA project was an addition to the rear of the existing 2-story Laclede school. The building is no longer in use as a school.
The addition to the existing 1849 courthouse was accomplished with an almost seamless continuation of the style of the original. The dental work below the eaves and over-all style was duplicated. This was important to the townspeople because of its… read more
This water retention dam and lake was constructed by the WPA in 1937. It was was justified as being for potential needs in a drought, but which primarily served as a place for water recreation for African American families in… read more
Constructed in 1940 by the Army Corps of Engineers, this dam created the 45,000-acre Lake Wappapello reservoir on the St. Francis River. Constructed with the primary intention of flood control, Lake Wappapello continues to offer recreational opportunities including boating, fishing, and… read more
According to a book on Joplin by Leslie Simpson, “In 1933, WPA workers cleared out the slums and created Landreth Park, which boasted a swimming pool, a playground, a tennis court, and flower gardens.” WPA work at the park included… read more
This free-standing brick façade laundry facility was completed in 1940 by the Public Works Administration to service the St. Louis City Hospital complex including the City Hospital, Malcolm Bliss Psychopathologic Institute, and clinic. It is a red brick building in… read more
This stately 2 story addition to the existing high school, dating to 1921, consists predominately of the gymnasium and auditorium. The front brick façade is accentuated by crenelations at the top of the front wall and the style of the… read more
Robert E. Lee Elementary School was built as Federal Public Works Project # 3701 in 1934. The school is a three story building with a multi-purpose auditorium on the first floor with ornate reliefs surrounding the stage. The building was… read more
This was the second addition to Levering Hospital. At the time, it ran in a straight east-west manner with the 1942 addition at the far east end of the building. The main entrance pictured is part of the original building… read more
“The park currently consists of 189 acres, one of the smallest state parks in the system; however, its size is not a reflection of limited recreational opportunities. The resources located within the park make Lewis and Clark State Park a… read more
The Works Progress Administration restored the Anderson House at the Lexington State Historic Site. According to a storyboard (pictured below) in the museum at this site, “significant repairs and restoration were undertaken by the Works Progress Administration as part of the… read more
In 1940, the PWA built this large 3 story brick building as a dormitory to house women. It is named after Libby Anthony who was a “matron” of girls and an instructor in the department of domestic economy.
In 1940, the Public Works Administration (PWA) built this large 3 story brick building as a dormitory to house female students at Lincoln University. It is named after Libby Anthony who was a “matron” of girls and an instructor in… read more
Liberty Field is a large baseball field with wooden stands that surround home plate. It is reputed to have been the first or one of the first baseball fields west of the Mississippi with lights for night time baseball. It… read more
Now known as the National WWI Museum and Memorial, what was then the Liberty Memorial was the recipient of efforts on the part of multiple New Deal agencies. National Register of Historic Places nomination form: Numerous small-scale features are located throughout… read more
When built by the PWA in 1936, Lincoln was the only high school available for black students in this segregated school system. It was built on a hill overlooking the vibrant 18th and Vine entertainment district that boasted some of… read more
Jefferson City, Missouri’s Lincoln University received a $10,000 grant from the federal Civil Works Administration (CWA).
CCC crews built this small recreational lake on Mill Creek in Mark Twain National Forest in 1940. It is at least partially spring-fed and tends to be clear. The dam has a simple concrete spillway. In addition to the lake,… read more
This large post office was constructed by the US Treasury Department between 1935 and 1937. Note the extensive use of inlaid depictions of postal service, state of the art at the time. Inside, the grillwork is lush as are the… read more
The post office contains nine stunning murals by artists Edward Millman and Mitchell Siporin. Depicting the “cycle on history of the region,” this massive project was the largest single project awarded for a Post Office by the Treasury Section. The… read more
This large stone building was completed by the WPA in 1938 along with a swimming pool. The pool has since been replaced by a modern pool, but the large bathhouse and attached buildings have been repurposed as the Maplewood Public… read more
This school is also known locally as “the little school” and although the façade is predominately native rock, the entry has a more “modern” appearance with concrete and the rock work is rather spare as compared with the more elaborate… read more
CCC crews built Marcoot Fire Lookout tower in what would become Mark Twain National Forest in 1936. The tower is on Route 72 and consists of the tower and outbuildings, some of which appear to be from the original project. … read more
Completed in 1942, this Work Projects Administration building features native Missouri stone and concrete. The building was designed by architect Mason C. Abbitt from Jefferson City, MO. Construction occurred in two stages and the facility includes a county jail.
The former Mark Twain Memorial Bridge, spanning the Mississippi River between Hannibal, Missouri and Illinois, was constructed as a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project. A preserved portion of the old Mark Twain Memorial Bridge remains on the west bank of the… read more
This is the second lighthouse at this site, the first was the WPA built lighthouse, but unfortunately it blew down in a windstorm in 1960. It was rebuilt in 1963 with the same exterior appearance as the original.
Check out our latest map and guide to the work of the New Deal in Washington, D.C. It includes 500 New Deal sites in the District alone, highlighting 34 notable sites, and includes an inset map of the area around the National Mall which can be used for self-guided walking tours.
Take a look at our previous guides, equally comprehensive, covering key New Deal sites in San Francisco and New York City.
