The Soul of STL

Your quick tour of FOREST PARK.

By Moe Godat

Whether you’re moving to a spacious suburb or an apartment in the heart of the city, you’ll always have access to the area’s “regional backyard,” Forest Park. Measuring 1,293 acres, Forest Park is nearly 500 acres larger than New York City’s Central Park and ranks as the 6th most visited urban park in the United States.

Since its establishment in 1876, Forest Park has served as a refuge for both local wildlife and its 13 million annual visitors. Many still consider Forest Park “the soul of St. Louis,” a nickname tied to its role in preserving the metropolitan area’s natural beauty while also containing several major cultural institutions.

The founders of Forest Park intended for the area to be open to everyone regardless of economic status, so many of its attractions are free for general admission. The Saint Louis Zoo was recently voted America’s Top Free Attraction and also the best zoo in the United States, housing over 14,000 wild animals of roughly 500 species and drawing in three million visitors annually.

While at the zoo, stop by and check out the new Primate Canopy Trails. It’s a 35,000-square-foot outdoor expansion connected to the Primate House, consisting of eight new outdoor homes for primates. The first-of-its-kind primate habitat and guest experience includes climbing structures that allow guests to explore the forest canopy next to the animals, while learning through play and exploration about conservation challenges primates are facing in the wild — and discovering solutions to help.

After you hang out with the monkeys, visit some of Forest Park’s other free attractions, such as the Saint Louis Art Museum, which contains work spanning five millennia from six continents, or the Saint Louis History Museum, which provides an in-depth look at the city’s influence on American culture. These locations provide new exhibitions every year that remain on display for several months before new ones take their places. These exhibitions often require an additional fee, but inclusive memberships to either museum are also available.

You don’t need to be a science buff to enjoy the Saint Louis Science Center, which also offers a free general admission to displays designed for all ages. This location’s main attraction is the James S. McDonnell Planetarium, a 24-meter dome used primarily for displaying a 360-degree view of a simulated night sky, but also screens movies periodically. Tickets for the planetarium shows are available for purchase both upon arrival and online.

The Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape is an exciting new Forest Park destination. The playscape, funded by donors to Forest Park Forever and completed in partnership with the City of St. Louis, is 17-acre experiential play space with natural landscapes that include native and diverse species. Featuring nine distinct activity areas, the free destination includes sand play areas, willow tunnels, stump steppers, boulders and rocks, hand water pumps and much more. The goal: encourage visitors — especially kids — to connect with nature as they engage their senses as they explore, discover and learn.

Forest Park remains a point of St. Louis pride with the diligent upkeep of over 45,000 trees, architectural hotspots such as the Jewel Box greenhouse, and America’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theater, the Muny. Want to learn more about your new home? Forest Park is a great place to start.