Aloe Plaza, Saint Louis

Aloe Plaza is a charming and historic park and plaza, situated directly in front of the iconic Union Station. The plaza was created as part of Harland Bartholomew’s 1919 plan, which utilized City Beautiful principles to redevelop the area. The plan required clearing several blocks between Market and Chestnut Streets, which was made possible by a bond issue approved in 1923.

The plaza was constructed using funds from the bond issue and opened to the public in 1932. The rectilinear space is surrounded by an alleé of canopy trees along the perimeter, with symmetrical north-south oriented paths that meet at the center and encircle a garden.

In the 1930s, the plaza's original plan was modified to incorporate a fountain commissioned by Edith Aloe. The fountain, called The Meeting of the Waters, was created by Carl Milles and was dedicated in 1940. The plaza was subsequently named after Edith Aloe's late husband, Louis Aloe, who was the former president of the Board of Alderman.

The centerpiece of Aloe Plaza is The Meeting of the Waters fountain, which features two facing human figures that symbolize the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The fountain is surrounded by a symmetrical arrangement of real and mythical creatures that seem to dance and leap out of the water. The fountain's design includes axial jets located behind each human figure that propel water straight up into the air. Angled spouts located on the creatures themselves project water in various directions.

Aloe Plaza is a balanced and symmetrical space that offers views of the historic Romanesque Revival Union Station across Market Street. It is juxtaposed by the asymmetrical Memorial Plaza to the east. The plaza's elegant design, including the striking fountain, make it a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.