Jewel Box Greenhouse and Botanic Garden

The Jewel Box is a historic glasshouse (greenhouse) and botanic garden in Forest Park. Built in 1936, the Art Deco structure was designed by the architect William C.E. Becker and constructed from iron and glass. In lieu of a traditional glass roof, the design features five stepped wood roofs with clerestories to allow light to enter. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 and fully renovated in 2002, the Jewel Box features permanent horticultural displays. It is open daily to the public and is a popular rental venue for weddings and other private events.

Built in 1936, the Jewel Box is an Art Deco glasshouse (greenhouse) for public horticultural displays. It contains ferns, tropical flowers, and other plants and trees that grow well indoors. The Jewel Box was designed by the architect William C.E. Becker and constructed by the Robert Paulus Construction Company. It opened to the public in May 1937.

The original materials included cantilevered glass, iron, and wood. Most of the glass was framed on the exterior side by copper, for decorative effect. An acid-finish was then applied at the time of construction to produce a weathered look that would give the appearance of age. There is also a vestibule made of limestone and granite. Outdoors, surrounding the Jewel Box, there are reflecting pools with waterlilies, walkways, and gardens filled with tulips and other seasonal plants.

The architect, William Becker, designed the building's roof with five stepped wooden tiers. As a result, the Jewel Box is considered almost entirely hail-proof. When a hailstorm hit St. Louis in 1938, a thousand panes of glass were damaged in the other greenhouses which were then located in Forest Park. Yet, the Jewel Box had not one single broken pane of glass, rendering the design a technical achievement.

In addition to its hail-proof design, the other architectural challenge was to ensure that enough light would be able to enter to sufficiently support the growth of the plants. At its highest center point, the roof is fifty feet tall, and sunlight is able to enter from all sides. In the original design, the south and west sides contained Venetian blinds, which could be adjusted to allow a range of light from full sun to partial shade depending on the needs of the plants.

The public entrance to the Jewel Box is through a formal vestibule lined with smooth-faced, cut limestone. Inside the vestibule, ornate grille-work and Black metal sconces provide further Art Deco styling. The limestone walls contain several inscriptions. A granite cornerstone, which was laid with the foundation at the time of construction, has been incised with the date: "erected 1936."

In January 2000, the Jewel Box was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was followed by a $3.5 million renovation in 2002. The renovation transformed the sunlit interior, while reinforcing the structure with steel beams. Today, the Jewel Box is maintained by the Flora Conservancy of Forest Park, in conjunction with the City of St. Louis. It is a popular destination for weddings and other private events, while also remaining open for daily public visitation for a modest admission fee.

"Jewel Box" National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, Missouri State Parks. Accessed May 15th 2022. https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Jewel%20Box.pdf.

Jewel Box, Forest Park Forever. Accessed May 15th 2022. https://forestparkmap.org/jewel-box.

Forest Park: The Jewel Box, St. Louis, MO, Living the New Deal. Accessed May 15th 2022. https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/jewel-box-st-louis-mo/.