Citygarden Sculpture Park, Saint Louis

Citygarden Sculpture Park, Saint Louis (must see)

Ever since its opening in 2009, Citygarden has prompted many a people to visit downtown St. Louis. Apart from contributing to the city's economy, the popularity of Citygarden has also led to the renewed interest in renovating the 16-block Gateway Mall.

Today it is hard to imagine, though, that prior to being converted to an urban park and sculpture garden, this site comprised two empty blocks of grass and nothing else. The idea to create a space to enable larger artworks to rest on wide lawns, whereas smaller spaces would be reserved for more private areas, was successful.

Currently, there are 24 sculptures here altogether, collectively worth around $12 million, if not more. Among these is a large bronze head lying on its side, by Igor Mitoraj; digital screens displaying walking people, by Julian Opie; and a bodiless pink suit, called “Big Suit”, by Erwin Wurm. Park visitors are allowed to touch the sculptures and even walk inside them. This means, though, that some of the works require more frequent maintenance, such as re-waxing. The materials used in the sculptures vary from metals — bronze, stainless steel, and cast aluminum — to fiberglass and even polyester.

Visitors to the garden can listen to an audio tour by dialing a special number on their mobiles. The tour is narrated by prominent locals (over twenty narrators in all) including former St. Louis Cardinals player Ozzie Smith and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra director David Robertson, as well as Jackie Joyner-Kersee, John Ashcroft, Jenna Fischer, and Kurt Warner.

The garden also features Ginkgo biloba trees, native plants, and spacious sidewalks. It is divided into three horizontal sections, designed to reflect the rivers and other natural characteristics of the St. Louis area. In particular, the northern limestone wall represents the Mississippi River bluffs, while the southern snaking meander wall stands is inspired by the region's waterways. Between the two zones are the rain gardens, larger trees, and larger sculptures, an area that represents a floodplain.

Why You Should Visit:
This park, unlike many other structure parks, allows guests to walk through the sculptures. There are also a few water features – a real treat on hot summer days!
No admission fee and you are free to roam.

Tip:
Night time provides a nice stroll through the garden filled with unique lighting.
Don't forget to stop into the cafe with patio service or enjoy a lunch from a nearby food truck!

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Saint Louis. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Citygarden Sculpture Park on Map

Sight Name: Citygarden Sculpture Park
Sight Location: Saint Louis, USA (See walking tours in Saint Louis)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Saint Louis, Missouri

Create Your Own Walk in Saint Louis

Create Your Own Walk in Saint Louis

Creating your own self-guided walk in Saint Louis is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Forest Park Walking Tour

Forest Park Walking Tour

Forest Park, a massive urban park in Saint Louis, offers a wide range of attractions and activities for visitors of all ages. Renowned for its multiple entertaining and educational facilities, such as museums, zoo, and green areas, it is often and quite deservedly regarded as one of the city's crown jewels – an ideal location for a great time out! Let's see what you can find on the...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles
Saint Louis Downtown Walking Tour

Saint Louis Downtown Walking Tour

Missouri's main city, St. Louis, is a prominent metropolis renowned for its cultural diversity, vibrancy and art. Ahead of the Europeans, the area of today's St. Louis was inhabited by the Native American Mississippian tribes.

French fur traders, who settled on the territory in 1764, named it for King Louis IX of France. That same year, the land was ceded to Spain, and in 1800, was...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Historical Religious Buildings Walking Tour

Historical Religious Buildings Walking Tour

Saint Louis, Missouri, is a perfect destination for those with a taste for great architecture, especially if it is associated with an important spiritual value. Indeed, this city features some of the most famous and interesting churches in the USA.

One such landmark is the Saint Mary of Victories Catholic Church. A stunning example of Mannerism architecture, it has been a spiritual hub for the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles