Carondelet History Museum

6303 Michigan Avenue
St. Louis 63111
314-481-6303

Donations appreciated. Free parking behind museum and on street. 

http://www.carondelethistory.org/

Opened in 1981. 

This museum is located in the old Carondelet neighborhood and housed in the old Des Peres School Building, built in 1873.  This building also houses a research library, the Cleveland High School collections, the Carondelet Historical Society, and the first public school kindergarten classroom in the United States. Thus a trip to this building means you are not only seeing the museum but also everything else that is in the old school, now owned by the historical society.

Probably the biggest draw is the kindergarten classroom which opened the year the school opened with 42 students in the first successful public kindergarten in North America.  During her 1870 travels to Europe Susan Blow developed an interest in the Friedrich Froebel kindergarten movement she observed in Germany.  She returned to St. Louis and obtained permission to start one here. 

The historical society purchased the school in 1981 and studied pictures of Susan Blow's  classroom. 

They went on to restore the same room to its original appearance. The boards include the the drawings on the blackboards as Susan Blow had drawn them. 

They followed every detail as close as possible.  They actually used the original 1870's mold for the legs of the benches to make the replicas. 

Items used in the classroom are stored in the original bookcase. 

The 24 windows were restored to their original appearance costing $10,000 per window. 

On each table there are "Gifts." 

The gifts can also be found in a display case.  The first gift was used for learning colors. 

The second gift teaches shapes. 

The fifth gift taught the skill of building. 

Also on the children's tables are actual samples from some of their kindergarten workbooks. 

The children made their own mugs that they used to drink hot chocolate.  The mold and mugs on display are from 1873. 

This is one of several pictures on display in the classroom. 

Susan Blow was recognized in 1991, 75 years after her death, with a star in the St. Louis Walk of Fame. This plaque is on display in her classroom. 

Adjoining her classroom is a replica of a classroom for the combined grades 1 and 2  and also numerous displays. 

The teacher's desk displays several books from that period. 

This is The Big Book which was used to teach reading. 

In 1904 photographs were taken of the 80+ kindergarten classrooms in the St. Louis Public Schools each participating in different activities.  These photographs are on display. 

In 1990 members of the historical society mapped out all of the schools in the St. Louis public schools.  This map and key are on display. 

There are several filled display cases in the classroom. 

This display has a collection of figurines carved from soap, an old time art project. 

There are several large items also on display. 

This item was unique because it was so small compared to today's school lunchboxes. 

Outside the classrooms is the Wall of Honor, a display of over 1200 pictures of veterans from the greater Carondelet area who served from the Civil War to the present. The display fills up two staircases. 

It also includes a few service-related cases including this one of service uniforms and equipment. 

At the top of the stairs is the Art Gallery showing the work of outstanding Carondelet artists. Many of the works, like these, show local architecture. 

There are also some display cases in the upstairs landing that give a hint as to what is in the museums upstairs. 

The first room of the museum is the Doris Wolff Heritage Room filled with Victorian furnishings including this bedroom. 

This 1892 mantle. 

This 1920's metal and art glass table lamp.

This music cabinet. 

And this gorgeous clock. 

There are also several display cabinets containing vintage clothing, advertising memorabilia, and in this case, beer steins. 

And since this is an historical museum in St. Louis of course one section is devoted to the 1904 World's Fair. 

One wall is covered with original drawings of the 88 Carondelet Landmarks that were honored with a plaque of recognition. 

The museum includes a large collection of early musical instruments. 

An 1880 zither. 

Several mandolins

A Gem Roller Organ (circa 1895) which you are allowed to play - it sounds great! 

And an RCA Victor Victrola. 

As to be expected, there is also a piano in Susan Blow's classroom. 

The second museum room upstairs is the Lois Waninger Memory Lane Room.  It is a street of storefronts including this hardware store. 

The hardware store carries items for washing clothes. 

The Show Me Doll Shoppe has a section on Shirley Temple dolls. 

And a display of children's charms. 

The Yaeger Market has food,

a 1914 price list, 

and kitchen and household supplies. 

The Train Shoppe has is an interactive operating train display with a whistle you can blow! 

Lois's Toy and Game Shoppe is filled with dolls, 

games, 

building sets,

sports paraphernalia, 

and other old toy items. 

There is a special display of Mickey Mouse collectibles

and of Charlie McCarthy collectibles. 

Down the hallway is  a large room filled with the Cleveland High School Collections including memorabilia from 1915-1984.  

A trip to the basement takes you to the Ron Bolte Civil War & Riverboat Room. 

In this room is an 8-foot model of the ironclad gunboat named the  U.S.S. Carondelet, built in 1862 by James Eads. 

When the Golden Eagle River Boat Museum closed it was moved to this museum to this Riverboat Room.  

The school size was doubled in 1897.  In the basement you can see the old walls of the original portion of the building. 

The Exhibit Room has a rotating display from their extensive collection of maps, books, photographs, artwork, vintage clothing, quilts, etc. 

On the wall is a display of an exhibit about the oldest houses in Carondelet. 

There is an archive room filled with boxes and drawers of papers relating to the area. 

There are also storage shelves with items that are not currently on display in the upstairs rooms. 

On the main level is the Fredrick Bouchein Research Library. Those interested in the history or genealogy of the area are welcome to come here to do research. They have many interesting items in their library including original papers of President U.S. Grant. 

The Society's Meeting room also has some displays.  The room is used for monthly meetings and speakers with events open to the public. 

This camera collection is in a display case in the back of the Meeting Room. 

Our trip was greatly enhanced by our docent, Dave Bouchein. 

Comments: My friends and I have declared this museum and building as one of St. Louis's hidden jewels.  The place was so interesting and fun as well as well-organized and clean, and it is all in existence due to donations and volunteers. After purchasing the building in 1981 for $25,000, the society has spent another 2 million dollars of donations to restore it. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The Susan Blow Room was very special and should be visited by every child in kindergarten and every elementary teacher!  The historical society has done a wonderful job restoring it. A tremendous number of collections and items have been donated to the society and they have done an excellent job sharing them with the public. They have so many items that they are able to rotate displays. 

Two days before going, I contacted the museum to let them know that we were coming.  It turned out to be a good decision.  They were able to make arrangements for a docent to tour us and he was excellent.  We learned so much from him and he made the visit really special and personal.  They do offer a self-guided tour pamphlet but if you can go through the museum with a docent that is even better. 

We spent 1.5 hours at the museum and building.