Jewel Box, Saint Louis

The Jewel Box is an Art Deco greenhouse located within Forest Park. Opened in 1936, it was built as part of a city beautification project during the Great Depression with funding from the federal Public Works Administration. Designed by engineer William C. E. Becker, with contributions from landscape architect John Noyes, the greenhouse combines streamlined Art Deco forms with innovative engineering. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 and continues to serve as both a public conservatory and a venue for special events.

The greenhouse measures approximately 144 feet long and 55 feet wide, rising nearly 55 feet at its highest point. Instead of a traditional glass roof, it features five stepped tiers of solid wood and composition roofing paired with vertical glass walls and clerestory windows, a design created by engineer William C. E. Becker to make the structure resistant to hail while still allowing abundant natural light into the interior. More than 16,000 square feet of glass, divided into roughly 4,000 panes, surrounds the building. Seasonal displays feature flowering annuals, tropical plants, palms, ferns, orchids, and other ornamental species arranged around fountains, decorative pools, and landscaped beds. Outside, formal gardens and reflecting pools complement the building's symmetrical Art Deco design.

In addition to its horticultural displays, the Jewel Box hosts educational programs, gardening workshops, photography sessions, weddings, and community events. A major renovation completed in 2002 preserved the historic structure while updating its environmental systems and visitor facilities. The combination of changing plant displays and preserved Art Deco architecture gives visitors a clear view of both the building's design and its continuing horticultural role.