Laumeier Sculpture Park expands the context of contemporary sculpture beyond the traditional confines of a museum. It is Laumeier's mission to initiate a lifelong process of cultural awareness, enrich lives, and inspire creative thinking by engaging people in experiences of sculpture and nature simultaneously.
A Brief History of Laumeier Sculpture Park:
In 1968, Mrs. Matilda Laumeier bequeathed the first 72 acres of the future Laumeier Sculpture Park, together with a large story-and-a-half house of cut stone, to the people of St. Louis County in memory of her husband, Henry H. Laumeier, for the benefit of the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. In 1975, the park was proposed as a possible site for the exhibition of sculpture and the concept of Laumeier Sculpture Park emerged. Catapulted by a collaborative of citizen leaders in the arts, education and business communities, Laumeier Sculpture Park, 501(c)3, was incorporated in September 1977; over the years it has grown to 105-acres. Laumeier Sculpture Park today has over 300,000 visitors annually.
Accredited by the American Association of Museums, Laumeier Sculpture Park is today an institution of international significance. The institution itself is one of a handful of open-air museums around the world and a unique compliment to the cultural landscape of the St. Louis region. Laumeier provides high-quality learning experiences for the greater St. Louis community and for visitors from all over the world. The many changing exhibitions, concerts, educational programs, lectures and special events developed at Laumeier Sculpture Park for all to enjoy support the mission of the institution.
Laumeier Timeline:
-1963 Wayne C. Kennedy, Director of St. Louis County Parks, talks with Matilda Laumeier about the bequest of her 72-acre estate for a County Park.
-1968 Upon her death, Matilda Laumeier leaves a legacy gift to the people of St. Louis County for the enjoyment of all community members.
-1969 The St. Louis County Parks Department acquires an additional 4.5 acres on Rott Road, and Peace Haven Association grants a small strip that juts into the park.
-1975 Henry H. Laumeier Memorial Park opens to the public, eventually becoming Laumeier Sculpture Park. Ernest Trova offers to make a gift of large sculptures as the beginning of a sculpture park and gallery. Adam Aronson, banker and collector, established this liaison with Wayne C. Kennedy. Trova’s dealer, Arnold Glimcher, Director of the Pace Gallery in New York, approves the idea. The gift of 40 sculptures was formalized on Dec. 11, 1975.
-1976 Forty works by Ernest Trova are installed and dedicated in an event timed to coincide with the national Bicentennial.
-1977 Laumeier Sculpture Park is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, with a board of 17, headed by Adam Aronson. Among the first sculptures loaned to the park are works by Robert Morris, Alexander Calder and Mark di Suvero.
-1979 Laumeier’s staff makes its home in the stone administration building that is the former Laumeier residence, and the institution’s first director, Beej Nierengarten-Smith is hired.
-1980 Alexander Liberman’s The Way is installed, a process that takes four weeks. An additional 20 acres adjoining the park on the east are purchased by a group of supporters from Mark Twain Bank, bringing the site to 98 acres.
-1981 A gift from Sidney S. Cohen establishes the reference library. The first site-specific sculpture, Laumeier Project by Jackie Ferrara, is dedicated.
-1988 The first Art Fair (then called the Fine Arts Fair) is held at Laumeier. Fifty-five artists participated, and 5,000 visitors attended. Laumeier earns accreditation by the American Association of Museums.
-1989 The inaugural year of Laumeier’s summer Art Camp for children, providing children ages 4-12 with a variety of art experiences.
-1995 Creation Location, a hands-on activity area for children is added to Art Fair.
-2001 Glen Gentele is appointed Director of Laumeier Sculpture Park, and the Aronson Endowed Professor for Modern + Contemporary Art at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. A joint operating agreement between Laumeier Sculpture Park and St. Louis County Parks is established.
-2002 Art Fair at Laumeier No. 15 reaches its current configuration, with 150 juried artists from across the country, food, music and 20,000 visitors to the event over the Mother's Day weekend. The St Louis Symphony Orchestra performs to an audience of 4,000 at Laumeier. The exhibition New Monuments by sculptor John Henry is presented and receives front-page coverage in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
-2003 The institution is reaccredited by the American Association of Museums. Laumeier Sculpture Park presents Dragons in the Sky, a major exhibition of works by Mark di Suvero surveying the artist's career from 1959 - 2003.
-2004 Strategic Plan for Public/Private Partnership is completed by the institution. Laumeier Sculpture Park presents the first solo exhibition of the artist Sol LeWitt to be mounted in St. Louis.
-2005 Laumeier Sculpture Park presents Blues legend B.B. King, the contemporary folk duo Indigo Girls, and the Godfather of Soul James Brown over a three-day music festival at LOMA (Laumeier Outdoor Music Amphitheatre). Laumeier’s terrace, patio, and underground restrooms are renovated.
-2006 Laumeier begins construction on a new entry drive and accessible parking area adjacent to the Museum Building. LOMA (Laumeier Outdoor Music Amphitheatre) features Cowboy Junkies, Shelby Lynne, Darkstar Orchestra, Jonathan Cour, Peter Mayer and R. Scott Bryan. The critically-acclaimed exhibition Drinks are boiling. Iced drinks are boiling by Joseph Havel is presented. Laumeier Sculpture Park acquires seven adjacent acres to preserve as natural space bringing the toal size of the Park to 105 acres.
-2007 Laumeier partners with Twangfest and KDHX to present The Hibernauts, Gentleman Auction House, Glossary and Todd Snyder at LOMA. Laumeier launches a new free public event series: Music + Movies featuring St. Louis area musicians followed by outdoor movies presented on a monumental-sized inflatable screen. Pugh + Scarpa selected as architect to design the new Fine Arts + Education Center at Laumeier.
Throughout the years, Laumeier has been the beneficiary of a long list of generous individuals and corporations who helped develop Laumeier into what it is today. Our Founders List is on view inside the museum and on the Museum Terrace.
~ from official website (
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St. Louis County Park Locations (
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Laumeier Map (
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Site Map with list of sculptures (
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