Urban Archaeology: Lost Buildings of St. Louis – What do they tell us?

Join us for an up-close look at the architectural remains of some of St. Louis’ most iconic structures in a private tour of Urban Archaeology: Lost Buildings of St. Louis.

Pulitzer Curatorial Assistant, Molly Moog, will take us through this new exhibition, showcasing an array of decorative and functional objects, drawn from the nation’s largest collection of architectural artifacts housed at the National Building Arts Center (NBAC). The Art Collaborative visit to the NBAC facility, located in a former steel foundry just minutes from The Arch, was so popular that we promised to schedule a tour of this notable event at the Pulitzer. Urban Archaeology is the most extensive public presentation of NBAC’s collection to date.

The exhibition brings together salvaged architectural elements from prominent landmark institutions and ordinary neighborhood buildings built in St. Louis between 1840 and 1950. It provides a rare glimpse into the lost art and craftwork that went into time-honored building materials and techniques. More than 30 items – from a theater façade and ornamental grillwork to hand-pressed bricks, monuments, and cast-iron columns – are featured in the exhibition.

The artifacts on display represent important histories of material innovation, labor, and the everyday lives of the people who inhabit the city. The exhibition sheds light on the city’s history, revealing complicated legacies of power, wealth, and neglect that shape our experience of the built environment and daily life. By examining St. Louis’s architectural past, Urban Archeology encourages us to imagine new ways of constructing, maintaining, appreciating, and inhabiting places. The exhibit also poses important questions about historic preservation and the practice of salvage. We hope you will join us for this engaging, thought-provoking presentation.

ADMISSION: Reservation is encouraged for this free Art Collaborative event. Walk-ins are welcome, based on availability.

PARKING: Complimentary parking in the lot adjacent to the museum and metered street parking are available.

WHAT IS THE ART COLLABORATIVE? An interactive, dynamic forum aimed at bringing art to people and people to the art, facilitated by Cynthia Correll and Judith Shaw. The idea is to draw together a diverse, creative community of artists and art enthusiasts interested in sharing ideas, inspiration, resources, and information about what drives their creative passion, process, and purpose. The group meets monthly in different art venues for hands-on, immersive experiences. Our goal is to cross pollinate among innovative institutions, organizations, and neighborhoods to showcase the art landscape in our region.