During the World's Fair, the Grand Basin and adjoining plaza formed the event's central scenic panorama for 20 million attendees, flanked by a dozen temporary palaces built of plaster and wood. The only permanent structure remaining from this area is the Cass Gilbert-designed Palace of Fine Arts, now the St. Louis Art Museum. As part of the Forest Park Master Plan, the entire Grand Basin was restored in 2003, with eight beautifully lit fountains running year-round. Today the Emerson Grand Basin is one of St. Louis's most popular sites for wedding and prom photos, and Art Hill between the Basin and the Art Museum remains a favorite family sledding spot for generations of St. Louisans. The Emerson Grand Basin is among significant landmarks, landscapes, and natural areas restored and maintained through the public-private partnership of the City of St. Louis and Forest Park Forever. Forest Park, called one of the Great Public Spaces in America, is St. Louis's big backyard, with natural areas, restored historic landmarks, cultural institutions, wildlife, and many opportunities for recreation and relaxation across its 1,371 acres, drawing more than 13 million visitors each year. After falling into disrepair during the second half of the last century, the park entered a new era through a $100 million restoration campaign led by Forest Park Forever and the City of St. Louis, and that partnership continues restoration, maintenance, and long-term stewardship projects.
