Caves of St. Louis

The Caves of St. Louis, Missouri, USA have been important in the economic development of the city. The young St. Louis was built upon a complex of natural caves which were once used for the lagering of beer by early German brewers. Underground caves are naturally cool, which was especially attractive to brewers before the advent of refrigeration. [ [http://www.mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2000/03/50.htm Milestones of Missouri's HiddenHallows] ]

Breweries

Several breweries were built atop these natural caves, which were altered to suit their purposes. Stone arches and brick ceilings prevented water seepage and uneven cave floors were paved with brick. In addition to being used for the storage and lagering of beer, such naturally cool places were sometimes employed as beer gardens, places for entertainment.

John Adam Lemp, coming to St. Louis from Germany in 1838, started a brewery using natural caves for refrigeration. His son William J. Lemp took over the business and built the Lemp Brewery industrial complex which still stands in St. Louis today. [http://www.asylumeclectica.com/asylum/sightseer/us/mo/lemp/index.html Lemp Mansion] ] The Lemp Mansion was constructed by the Lemp Family and included an underground tunnel through the natural cave system leading to the Lemp Brewery. The Lemp Family would use this tunnel to go to work.

Underground Railroad

An oral tradition in St. Louis links the cave system with the Underground Railroad. According to this tradition a tunnel behind the house at 3314 Lemp Avenue was used as a secret entrance to the caves. One entrance to the caves opens near the Mississippi River, where the slaves could make their way to freedom. [ [http://users.stlcc.edu/mfuller/lempdig/history.html Lemp Avenue Archeological Sites] ]

Cherokee Caves

Cherokee Caves was one attempt to turn the caves near the Lemp Brewery into a commercial attraction. They were closed and the site was demolished to make way for the construction of Interstate 55. [ [http://www.showcaves.com/english/usa/caves/Cherokee.html Cherokee Cave] ]

Entrances

Old caves were often filled with rubble from the buildings above them when they were demolished. Therefore, there may be many homes and houses currently built above entrances to the old system of caves which have since been filled in with rubble.

Bibliography

* "The Lost Caves of St. Louis"

References

External Links (further reading)

* [http://www.mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2000/03/50.htm Milestones of Missouri's HiddenHallows]
* [http://www.asylumeclectica.com/asylum/sightseer/us/mo/lemp/index.html Lemp Mansion]
* [http://users.stlcc.edu/mfuller/lempdig/history.html Lemp Avenue Archeological Sites]
* [http://www.showcaves.com/english/usa/caves/Cherokee.html Cherokee Cave]
* [http://stlouis.missouri.org/neighborhoods/history/benton/text3.htm Benton Park]
* [http://www.slpl.org/slpl/interests/article240085707.asp Book: Caves of St. Louis]
* [http://users.stlcc.edu/mfuller/cliffcave.html Cliff Cave]
* [http://www.slpl.org/slpl/interests/article240085707.asp St. Louis Public Library - Caves of St. Louis]
* [http://www.pww.org/article/articleprint/6428/ People's Weekly World - Underground Railroad]
* [http://www.riverfronttimes.com/1999-04-28/news/hit-parade/full Dismantling 3314 Lemp Site]