Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion

3352 DeMenil Place
St. Louis, Missouri 63118
Admission: adults - $8.00; children under 12 - $5.00; group rates; metered street parking

www.demenil.org

In 1849, Henri Chatillon, guide and hunter for the American Fur Company of St. Louis, built a four-room brick farmhouse in the middle of the French section of St. Louis. In 1856 he sold the house to wealthy Frenchman Dr. Nicolas DeMenil who hired an architect to turn the farmhouse into a Greek Revival Mansion as shown here.  It was completed in 1863. 

The back of the house shows the original Chatillon section on the right and the pillared DeMenil addition on the left. 

Nicolas's son inherited the house upon Nicolas's death and lived there until 1929. After the son died the house was not maintained well and in the early 1960's it was almost torn down to make way for the new interstate highway, 55. Fortunately, it was saved and in 1965 was opened as a museum.  It was decorated to resemble the way it looked in the DeMenil era as can be seen in the parlor below. 

The marble mantelpieces are original to the mansion as are all of the ceiling medallions, the parquet floor, and the foyer chandelier.  . 

Most of the furniture dates from the 1800's and early 1900's and some pieces were owned by the Chatillon or DeMenil families. Second floor bedrooms hold beautiful wooden beds. 

A bedside table is home to a very interesting pink lamp!

Original marble fireplaces kept the upstairs warm, also. 

A drawing of the house hangs on an interesting wall-papered wall. 

On the third floor is a room and hallway filled with artifacts from the St. Louis 1904 World's Fair.  They are from the collection of Joe Meisel, Jr.  At the time of his death in 1988 Joe had accumulated more than 1000 pieces which were later donated to the mansion for all of St. Louis to enjoy. It is the largest collection of Louisiana Purchase Exhibition memorabilia on public display.

It is not surprising that a city already filled with Germans would have beer steins at its World Fair. 

These small coin purses are fascinating. 

There is a large case of ruby flash glass souvenir pieces from the fair. 

This dish is made from oyster shells. 

Of course music was an important part of  the St. Louis Worlds Fair. 

There is a small Museum Shop in the lower level of the mansion.  There is also a carriage house which is available for events such as weddings, receptions, and galas. The mansion is also available to rent for social activities. 

Comments: The house only has about five or six rooms open for viewing.  We toured it while on a Christmas house tour of three houses, and therefore did not take the guided tour that is available normally.  I would recommend the house tour to learn more about the furnishings.

I commented to a docent about all of the flowered carpeting and flowered wallpaper. His response was that the carpet was chosen based on what the restorers thought it should look like and not what in reality it probably looked like. His response made me question how authentic the decorating really was. 

The collection of World's Fair artifacts was interesting and fun to see. 

The website does not tell you much about the history of the mansion, nor its restoration. It does have information about visiting and renting facilities. 

There is only metered-street parking available. 

The house and property are owned by the Chantillon-DeMenil House Foundation.