Founded in 1976, Laumeier is one of the first and largest dedicated sculpture parks in the country. In 1968, Mrs. Matilda Laumeier bequeathed the first 72 acres of the future Laumeier Sculpture Park to St. Louis County in memory of her husband, Henry Laumeier. In 1976, local artist Ernest Trova gifted 40 artworks, with an estimated market value of approximately one million dollars, to St. Louis County for the formation of a sculpture park and gallery. Laumeier Sculpture Park opened as part of the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation system on July 7, 1976. One year later, Laumeier Sculpture Park was officially incorporated.
Today, Laumeier is an internationally recognized, nonprofit arts organization that is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and operates in partnership with St. Louis County Parks. Projects and programs are supported by the Mark Twain Laumeier Endowment Fund, the Regional Arts Commission, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Missouri Arts Council and the Arts and Education Council of St. Louis. Laumeier presents more than 70 works of large-scale outdoor sculpture in a 105-acre park located in the heart of St. Louis County. Free and open daily, Laumeier serves 300,000 visitors of all ages each year through sculpture conservation, education programs, temporary exhibitions and public events.
In 2015, Laumeier closed its first major capital campaign, Sculpting the Future, culminating in the renovation of the Laumeier’s 1917 Estate House into the Kranzberg Education Lab and the construction of the new Aronson Fine Arts Center for exhibitions, programs and events.
PARK HOURS
Open from 8 a.m. until 30 minutes past sunset.
The Aronson Fine Arts Center + Whitaker Foundation Gallery is currently open on Thursdays & Fridays from 12-7 p.m. and Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Park is free and open to the public year-round, with the exception of special events. The Aronson Fine Arts Center hours may change seasonally and due to private events. The entire Park is closed to the general public the Thursday–Sunday of Art Fair weekend in May, November 5 for Laumeier After Dark, and Christmas Day (December 25). The Park will also close at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 17 for The Big Dinner.
Public restrooms are available in the Carriage House and the Way Field. It is recommended that visitors wear face masks when entering any indoor facility at the Park.
