Julia Davis Branch Library Tours

Popular places to visit

Bellefontaine Cemetery is a nonprofit, non-denominational cemetery and arboretum located in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1849 as a rural cemetery, Bellefontaine is home to a number of architecturally significant monuments and mausoleums such as the Louis Sullivan-designed Wainwright Tomb, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The cemetery contains 314 acres of land and over 87,000 graves, including those of William Clark, Adolphus Busch, Thomas Hart Benton, and William S. Burroughs. Many Union and Confederate soldiers from the American Civil War are buried at Bellefontaine, as well as numerous local and state politicians. As of 2012 over 87,000 people have been buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery, and approximately 100 new burials take place each year. Bellefontaine remains a non-profit, non-denominational cemetery, and still holds over 100 acres of open, unused land. Some of this extra land has recently been converted into prairie and woodland. Bellefontaine contains over 14 miles of paved roads and, as an accredited arboretum, is home to over 180 species of trees and shrubs. A new lakeside garden and columbarium were completed in 2010, and other major landscaping projects are planned or in progress. The cemetery contains the graves of many prominent pioneers to the West, as well as businessmen, politicians, and generals who remain significant figures in the history of St. Louis and the United States. The oldest graves in the cemetery are located on pioneer Edward Hempstead’s family lot and date as far back as 1816. Many of the wealthiest families at Bellefontaine are interred in ornate mausoleums which overlook the Mississippi River and draw from Classical, Romanesque, Gothic, and Egyptian architectural styles. Among the most notable mausoleums in the cemetery are: the Wainwright Tomb, designed for Charlotte Dickson Wainwright by the famed Chicago school architect Louis Sullivan in 1892; the Busch Mausoleum, designed for Adolphus Busch and Lilly Anheuser by Barnett, Haynes & Barnett in 1915; and the Brown Brothers Mausoleums, designed in 1910 by Isaac Taylor and in 1928 by Mauran, Russell and Crowell. There are also a number of large family plots in the cemetery, many of which are marked by tall obelisk monuments with elaborate bases. Guided tours of the cemetery’s main historical and architectural highlights are available and are open to the public. Alternatively, visitors can obtain self-guided tour brochures at the cemetery office. The cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. #LIFEATEXPEDIA

Bellefontaine Cemetery

Enjoy a stop at Bellefontaine Cemetery, a landmark worth seeing in St. Louis. Experience the area's acclaimed art scene or attend a baseball game.

Bellefontaine Cemetery
Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts which includes modern architecture

Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts

Immerse yourself in modern art, architecture, culture and ideas at this unusual gallery.

Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts

Shelley House

Learn about the local history of St. Louis with a stop at Shelley House.

Shelley House

The Ville Monument

Learn about the local history of St. Louis when you take a trip to The Ville Monument.

The Ville Monument

Sumner High School

Learn about the local history of St. Louis when you spend time at Sumner High School.

Sumner High School

Poro College Site

Walk around the campus at Poro College Site during your stay in St. Louis.

Poro College Site

Best Lodging Options Near Julia Davis Branch Library

Quaint St Louis Home ~ 6 Mi to Downtown!

Quaint St Louis Home ~ 6 Mi to Downtown!

3 out of 5
St. Louis MO
Quaint St Louis Home ~ 6 Mi to Downtown!
The West End

The West End

2 out of 5
4215 Lindell Blvd St. Louis MO
The West End
Pear Tree Inn St. Louis Near Union Station

Pear Tree Inn St. Louis Near Union Station

3 out of 5
2211 Market Street St. Louis MO
Pear Tree Inn St. Louis Near Union Station
White House at Grand Central

White House at Grand Central

4 out of 5
3805 Lindell Blvd St. Louis MO
White House at Grand Central
Aloft St. Louis Cortex

Aloft St. Louis Cortex

3 out of 5
4245 Duncan Avenue St. Louis MO
Aloft St. Louis Cortex
See all 1,474 properties in Julia Davis Branch Library
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