History
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Forest Park, a 1,326-acre public landscape in western St. Louis, emerged from civic efforts in the late nineteenth century and was dedicated in 1876 after the city acquired land west of Kingshighway. Designed by Maximillian G. Kern and Julius Pitzman, it became a defining part of the city in 1904 as the main site of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and the Summer Olympics, which reshaped its terrain, waterways, and infrastructure. Cultural institutions and fair landmarks became lasting features, while later restoration revived wetlands, prairie, and wildlife. Today it remains a heavily used civic center for recreation, culture, and public life.
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St. Louis, Missouri · United States