Cabanne House (Park Keeper's House)

Completed in 1876, the Cabanne House served as a headquarters for the Park Department and also as a residence for the superintendent of Forest Park. Located near the Union Avenue entrance, it was constructed from red brick in a French Second Empire style, with Italianate details that were intended to harmonize the structure with the surrounding naturalistic landscape. The one-and-a-half story home features a hexagonal green-tile mansard roof, which provides an extra half-story of living space above the main level. The Cabanne House was designated a St. Louis City Landmark in 1971 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It was fully refurbished in 2006, when it served as a showcase for a special event benefitting the St. Louis Symphony Volunteer Association.

The Cabanne House or "Park Keeper's House" sits on a partially wooded parcel near the Union Avenue entrance to Forest Park. Constructed as part of the master plan for Forest Park, the home was named for Jean Pierre Cabanne, who previously owned part of the land that was incorporated into the park. In 1819, Cabanne had built an earlier home from red brick, and it was likely the first brick farmhouse west of the Mississippi River. This provided inspiration for the later design of the Cabanne House named in his honor. For many years, the property served as a headquarters for the Park Department and as a residence for the park superintendent or "keeper of the park," whose duties included weeding, cleaning, and overseeing the landscape.

The Cabanne House was designed by local architect James McNamara in the French Second Empire style, which became popular in the U.S. after the Civil War. As was characteristic of the style, it featured a mansard roof that was considered attractive as well as economical, since the design offered an extra half-story of living space. The mansard roof was completed with hexagonal tiles of light green slate, and the home featured 14-foot high ceilings, large arched windows, decorative marble mantels, and other Italianate details. Outside, the grounds surrounding the house blended with the Victorian style of Forest Park, while providing an inviting atmosphere at the entrance near Union and Lindell Boulevards. The front porch of the home was added later, replacing a stoop that was original to the building.

Completed in 1876, the Cabanne House was finished just in time for the formal dedication ceremony of Forest Park, which drew a crowd of 50,000 people. After the park opened to the public, St. Louis residents often strolled through the landscape or enjoyed carriage drives along its winding paths. The popularity of Forest Park led to the establishment and expansion of new residential neighborhoods, such as the Central West End, adjacent to the naturalistic landscape. This trend continued as the 1904 World's Fair drew even more attention to Forest Park, with the city further expanding westward and eventually encompassing the Picturesque park within the urban environment.

Nearly a century after its construction, the Cabanne House was designated a St. Louis City Landmark in 1971, followed by its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The nomination form stated that the Cabanne House is the only remaining nineteenth-century building in Forest Park. The home was refurbished in 2006, prior to its use by the St. Louis Symphony Volunteer Association as a showcase for a charitable event. An article in The Riverfront Times noted that the house and gardens had been fully restored to their Victorian appearance for the special event; the only difference was that the property had become "a little less country and a bit lighter on the livestock." This comment alluded to a 1903 article in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat acknowledging that the Keeper of Forest Park was also permitted to "keep a cow, chickens, and everything to be found in a first-class country home" during the early twentieth century.

Although there are no longer any livestock on site, the Cabanne House has at times been available for private rental. The historic property was closed for reservations through 2022, as the building underwent some upgrades to the exterior. The Cabanne House currently houses the St. Louis Ambassadors, a volunteer civic association that facilitates community service projects and fosters goodwill. Founded in 1965 to promote St. Louis as a good place to live and work, the Ambassadors encouraged the establishment of new businesses in the city. In 2002, the group also formed a non-profit organization, The 1904 World's Fair Charitable Foundation, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the World's Fair and Olympics held in Forest Park, while also raising funds for a park beautification program and supporting other charities throughout the bi-state region.

Cabanne House, St. Louis.gov. Accessed June 5th 2022. https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/parks/parks/Cabanne-House.cfm.

Hayes, Anna Teekell. "This Old House: It's Music to Our Ears", Riverfront Times. October 11th, 2006. Accessed March 1st, 2023. https://www.riverfronttimes.com/arts/this-old-house-2490685.

Our History, St. Louis Ambassadors. Accessed March 1st, 2023. https://saintlouisambassadors.com/our-history.

Park Keeper's House, St. Louis.gov. Accessed June 5th 2022. https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/cultural-resources/city-landmarks/Park-Keepers-House-Cabanne-House.cfm.

Naffziger, Chris. Cabanne House, Forest Park, St. Louis Patina. July 2nd 2019. Accessed June 5th 2022. https://stlouispatina.com/cabanne-house-forest-park/.

Nomination Form, National Register of Historic Places (Cabanne House), MO State Parks. Accessed March 1st, 2023. https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Forest%20Park%20HQ%20Bldg.pdf.