Anthropomorphic Face, Near North Riverfront

Stony Growl

Union Trust terracotta details

Sole Survivor

Orpheum Theater

I remember the Orpheum Theater as the American Theater, the place where heavy metal acts used to play downtown. Those days are apparently long gone, as much of downtown strives for a more upscale clientele. The Roberts Brothers fully dominate the block; adding their stamp to one portion of downtown.It's funny, I remember waiting in line outside the Orpheum and looking up at the forlorn hulk of the Statler Hotel, with pigeons coming and going from its shattered upper windows.

Railroad Exchange Building

I have always had a soft spot for the Railroad Exchange Building, that hulking, terracotta covered edifice rising right in the heart of downtown. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that I learned through satellite images that the top floors of the office building portion of the structure has a large donut light well in the center. You can see it here.




Originally planned to be the headquarters of St. Louis's railroads, it became the center for May Department Stores.I long for the day when the skybridge is removed and the terracotta carefully replaced from the old St. Louis Centre.

Un/Glazed Terracotta

I stumbled on this fascinating corner a few months back. I love how the terracotta is glazed down below, perhaps in order to protect the material from the splashing of water on the sidewalks.