1315 Chestnut Street
Saint Louis, Missouri
314-622-4550
Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum is dedicated as a memorial for veterans and as a museum for preserving a historic collection of military artifacts. The Soldiers' Memorial was the first of the two war memorials in Saint Louis completed in honor of World War I veterans. The residents of Saint Louis voted in 1923 to appropriate funds for the purchase of a memorial plaza and monument to commemorate Saint Louisans who lost their lives in World War I. In 1933 additional funds were raised and with the help of money from the federal Relief and Recovery Act construction of the building began in 1935. President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially dedicated the site in 1936 and it was opened to the public on Memorial Day, 1938.
The stately building's entrance is flanked by four Bedford stone sculptures by Walker Hancock representing 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. 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 Saint Louisans who died in wars. A black granite cenotaph in the center of the loggia is inscribed with the names of 1,075 St. Louisans who lost their lives in World War I.
Two exhibit rooms hold collections of military items--uniforms, photographs, weaponry, war souvenirs and regalia, posters and medals as well as mannequins wearing uniforms. Also featured are a bell and a wheel from the cruiser USS St. Louis, a US torpedo, a model of the USS New Jersey, and 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 Saint Louisans who were killed in WWII. 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 Saint Louisans who lost their lives in Vietnam.
Visiting Soldier's Memorial Military Museum
Visiting Hours
Monday - Friday: 9 am to 4:40 pm
There is no charge to visit Soldier's Memorial Military Museum.
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