Forest Park is a crown jewel of St. Louis, along with being the focus of two new books.
How Forest Park Was Made by Ian Sullivan
Ian grew up in the countryside outside of St. Louis. He says Forest Park became a frequent destination to hunt down adventure, refuel imagination and stumble into learning. Still a St. Louis native, Ian regularly sees and reports on illustrated characters emerging from the world around him, particularly when he’s surrounded by his wife and three kids roaming the city’s most magical destinations.
Imagine Forest Park without the Saint Louis Zoo? What about the Art Museum or The Muny or the Jewel Box? Journey through time in Ian's book to see how favorite Forest Park destinations first came to be. From the World’s Fair to local wonderland, discover how Forest Park was transformed through two centuries into a dazzling destination of art, history and science all packed in a single park in St. Louis.
Reedy Press published Ian's new, hardcover picture book, which is available where books are sold for $22.50 each.
Forest Park St. Louis Gathering Place Since 1876 by Amanda E. Doyle and Cameron Collins
From its signature institutions and events to the 15 million-plus yearly visitors who use Forest Park for solace, for refuge, for recreation, for family time, for self-expression, for mental health and for connection, the park offers something for all. The durability and flexibility that came to define the green heart of the city have made it the unquestionable gathering place for residents and visitors alike, from 1876 until today. Explore the pages of Amanda's and Cameron's books to be inspired anew by the history and spirit of Forest Park.
Amanda says she finds intrigue and adventures large and small from her home base in south St. Louis City. Cameron has called St. Louis home since 1995. They state the creation and preservation of Forest Park is at its heart a very American story, in keeping with the character of a still-developing city on the cusp of the Gilded Age; St. Louis nurtured in its civic soul the tension of a self-made metropolis.
Reedy Press also published this book, which costs $45 each.