Art and nature come face-to-face at Laumeier Sculpture Park in Sunset Hills, Missouri. The free, 105-acre park includes nature trails and greens interspersed with over 60 large-scale, outdoor sculptures.
If you have the feeling that someone – or something – is watching you as you walk around Laumeier Sculpture Park, don’t be alarmed. It’s just that giant, nearly 40 foot diameter eyeball on the lawn over there. The Tony Tasset “Eye” is just one of the many large-scale sculptures that will arrest your attention at the park.
Laumeier (rhymes with “now higher”) Sculpture Park was founded in 1976 on land donated to St Louis County by Matilda Laumeier. This makes it one of the first and oldest sculpture parks in the United States. An initial gift of 40 artworks by local artist Ernest Trova kicked off the park’s collection.
Visiting the Sculpture Park
Laumeier has the distinction of being not only one of the country’s first sculpture parks but also one of the largest.
The 105 acre park is home to works by Vito Acconci, Mark di Suvero, Donald Baechler, Jonathan Borofsky, Anthony Caro, Niki de Saint Phalle, Jackie Ferrara, Donald Judd, Sol LeWitt, Alexander Liberman, Robert Morris, and Beverly Pepper, to name but a few.
Paved walkways and hiking trails crisscross the property, allowing for self-guided tours of the installed works.
The Central Pathway offers a .64-mile loop that will take you past some of the Park’s most popular sculptures. The Art Hike Trail is the longest trail in the park at .77 miles. The short, .15-mile Western Woodland Trail provides a quick and pleasant hike along the west side of the park.
Laumeier presents a variety of educational programs, special events, art classes, workshops, and art camps throughout the year.
The park is free, open daily and a great place to view art, take a walk, or enjoy a picnic. You can bring your (leashed) dog, let the kids blow off some steam, or just enjoy a nice hike through the woods!
Laumeier Sculpture Park
12580 Rott Road, Saint Louis, Missouri 63127
Park hours are 8am to 30 minutes past sunset, 365 days a year. Aronson Fine Arts Center hours are 10am to 4pm, daily.
Learn more at the park website. You can also visit the park on Facebook.
Missouri Lodging
There are endless reasons to reward yourself with a Missouri getaway, especially if you acquire accommodations at a Missouri bed and breakfast. A Missouri bed and breakfast is your answer to a good night’s sleep, followed by a nutritious breakfast, and a host of top-shelf amenities in between. Find the perfect Missouri inn for your getaway today!