Soldiers Memorial Military Museum

Missouri Historical Society Saint Louis, MO

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Since 2011, Mackey Mitchell has been leading the renovation and revitalization of the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum and surrounding area. Opened in 1938 in downtown St. Louis, the memorial has served generations of veterans and their families. Originally built to honor St. Louisans serving in World War I, the monumental building now serves to memorialize sacrifices made in all subsequent wars and provides much-needed gathering spaces for veteran organizations and school groups. The project site also includes the Court of Honor, a contemplative plaza that honors St. Louisans serving in World War II, and located just across Chestnut St.
Shape
The firm became involved in this important project in 2011, when Gene Mackey formed a coalition of civic leaders dedicated to bringing much-needed improvements to the facility and grounds. In addition to engaging local stakeholders, world-renowned exhibit designers were added to the team to ensure the project will transform visitor's experiences and serve as an educational asset to area school groups. The renovation is highly sensitive to maintaining the beautiful art deco detailing found throughout the building. Work includes exterior pavement and landscaping replacement, exterior stone wall cladding repair and cleaning, and new waterproofing and roofing. Inside the building, an entirely new museum-quality heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system will be installed. The basement will be improved for use as additional exhibition galleries, more than doubling the size of the current gallery space.
Inspire
The transformed facilities in Memorial Plaza will better honor St. Louis citizens who gave their lives in service to their country, as well as countless others who have served and returned to share their stories. The modernized Memorial will be better equipped to display its own artifacts, and capable of displaying traveling exhibits on loan from other museums. New memorial walls will prominently display the names of those who gave their lives in wars since World War II. Each element of the rejuvenated Soldiers Memorial will soon be a more integrated and accessible destination for those visitors seeking to learn, remember and honor those who are owed a debt of gratitude.

Passion + Perspective

Many of the gallery space's art deco detailing is being preserved and incorporated into the new design.
Historic photo of Soldiers Memorial.
Construction photo from April 2017 showing the new reflecting pool in the Court of Honor.
Construction photo dated 4/2017 showing the newly replaced steps, original to the building, that were removed so that a new support system could be constructed underneath. Also shown is one of the four monumental sculptures by Walter Hancock, which have been cleaned and restored.