When Was the St Louis Art Museum Built?

Art|Art Museum

The St. Louis Art Museum, or SLAM for short, is a world-renowned repository of art and artifacts located in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. The museum was founded in 1881 and has grown to be one of the largest in the region.

It houses more than 30,000 works of art from around the world, with a particular focus on art from the Americas, Europe and Asia. The museum’s collections are displayed in three buildings: the Main Building, which opened in 1904; the East Building, which opened in 1993; and the recently completed expansion wing, which opened in 2013.

The Main Building of SLAM was designed by renowned American architect Cass Gilbert and is considered a masterpiece of Beaux-Arts style architecture. Its iconic dome is made of Tennessee marble and is visible from miles away.

The building was constructed between 1902-1904 at a cost of $1 million dollars. This building houses some of SLAM’s most renowned works such as Auguste Rodin’s “The Thinker” sculpture and Gustave Caillebotte’s “Paris Street; Rainy Day” painting.

In 1993, after several years without any major expansion projects, SLAM opened its East Building to much fanfare. Designed by renowned architect Sir David Chipperfield, this modernist structure consists of two asymmetrical wings connected by a glass-covered central atrium known as the Mound Court. This building houses many of SLAM’s most recent acquisitions as well as special exhibits.

In 2013, SLAM completed its expansion project with the opening of its new wing designed by British architect Sir David Adjaye. This wing features an innovative use of natural light to highlight artwork on display while also creating an intimate atmosphere for visitors. Additionally this new wing houses many of SLAM’s educational programs such as lectures and classes.

Conclusion:

The St Louis Art Museum was built over a period spanning 1902-2013 with various expansions being added over time. The original Main Building was designed by Cass Gilbert and opened in 1904 at a cost of $1 million dollars while an additional East Wing was added in 1993 and an expansion wing designed by Sir David Adjaye opened in 2013 to complete the museums current set up.