For the Unseen STL History Talks in September, we welcomed architect and photographer Gary Tetley, who shared images from 35 years of photographing buildings in downtown St. Louis. Many of the buildings he featured were torn down since he captured their likenesses, including some demolished for the Gateway Mall and for (always disheartening) parking lots.
Downtown giants
Gary shared images of many buildings, from the Lincoln Trust (Title Guaranty) building to the Wainwright (which still stands). During the presentation, we also discussed the issues of preservation and what to do with these massive structures in 2024, when the demand for office space has dwindled, and there is only so much need for high-end apartments or hotels. It’s a problem St. Louis and other cities must contend with as the needs of urban areas have changed over the past couple of decades.
You can view his photos below:
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Unseen STL History Talks: Lost Giants