Did you know there’s a bit of St. Louis in Columbia? The same designer, Eero Saarinen, who designed The Arch in St. Louis designed Stephens College’s Firestone Baars Chapel.
If you love before and after views, you are going to love this historic images released on June 17, 2016 by the State Historical Society of Missouri.
The seven images below are from the State Historical Society of Missouri’s Steinberg, Simon C. “Si” (1906-2002), Photograph Collection, 1938, 1950. (P0005) collection.
All seven images are from the May 22, 1950 groundbreaking.
The image above is a public domain image from Wikipedia.
Firestone Baars Chapel Groundbreaking
Firestone Baars Chapel Groundbreaking
Firestone Baars Chapel Groundbreaking
Firestone Baars Chapel Groundbreaking
Firestone Baars Chapel Groundbreaking
Firestone Baars Chapel Groundbreaking
Firestone Baars Chapel Groundbreaking
Background
Dedicated in 1957, Firestone-Baar Chapel at 1209 E. Walnut St. is a unique, nondenominational chapel. It was designed by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, who also designed the Gateway Arch in St. Louis as well as other landmark buildings.
The chapel features a square plan and an entrance at each of the compass points. The Stephens College Campus Life-Student Handbook notes, “The chapel symbolizes commitment to individual spiritual development and worship. The chapel is used for meditation, religious services, vespers, weddings, memorials and campus programs.”
In 2002, the chapel was named to the Columbia Historic Preservation Commission’s Notable Properties Listing.
- November 2013 — Columbia, The Beautiful by Morgan McCarty. Inside Columbia. Outlines the architectural finds in Columbia.