A house must be at least 50 years old to be eligible for historic designation, and St. Louis, Missouri has a solid 175 years of historic housing stock. There are over 100 of them that made the National Register of Historic Places.

Marveling at such an impressive list of worthwhile homes, let’s pop in, roughly, every 25-30 years to see some of the highlights.

1790 – Casa Alvarez

289 rue St. Denis, Florissant MO
“Believed to be the oldest residence in Florissant, and possibly the county.”
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in June 1976.

1830s – Bacon Log Cabin

687 Henry Ave, Ballwin MO
This abode started as a tiny log cabin, with several additions over the decades. Today, it is closer to its original size, and serves as the home of Old Trails Historical Society.

1858 – Archambault House

603 rue St. Denis, Florissant, MO
This privately-owned home is across N. Jefferson street from Hendel’s Café (which is also pretty darn old!) in Old Towne Florissant.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 1976.

1888 – Charles W. Ferguson House

15-17 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, MO
This is the only remaining grand home in this part of Webster Groves after Lockwood Ave. was zoned commercial in the 1920s. After decades as a private and rental home, it is currently business offices.
Added to the National Register in September 1984.

1910 – Gocke-Vance House

2615 Poe Avenue, Overland, MO
This home was designed by St. Louis architect Lawrence Ewald, based on the plans for a fireproof house by Frank Lloyd Wright. It remains a privately-owned residence.

1935 – Cori House

1080 N. Berry Road, Glendale, MO
A nicely preserved example of St. Louis architect Harris Armstrong’s residential work before World War 2. It remains a privately-owned residence.
Added to the National Register in October 1986.

1950s-60s Ladue Estates

1-80 Ladues Estates Dr., Creve Coeur, MO
This largely intact subdivision is not only the first mid-century modern neighborhood on the Missouri National Register, but remains one of the few in the nation. Read more about their historic milestone.
Added to the National Register in May 2010.

The story of historic homes in St. Louis ends right about here, but with the 50-year rule, it means homes from the mid-1960s to 1970 are heading into potential historic status. So the story will continue on.

To explore the full list of all buildings on the St. Louis National Register of Historic Places, click here.

Local Resources for St. Louis Historic Homes and Buildings

If you have an interest in the history of St. Louis homes and buildings, we recommend checking out these websites and organizations to dig deeper.

Landmarks Association of St. Louis

Preservation Research Office

Built St. Louis

B.E.L.T. (Built Environment in Layman’s Terms)

St. Louis Patina

Vanishing St. Louis

Mosby Building Arts has been remodeling St. Louis homes since 1947, so have had the pleasure of working on homes every era. We have renovated homes from the pre-Civil War era to Lustrons. So if you have a historic home that needs special care, give us a call at 314.909.1800 or contact us here.