Sappington House Foundation

Historic structures transport us into our past, where we wrestle with the complicated reality of our society’s origins, but St. Louis's historic buildings are disappearing. Whether in service to civic development or due to decay and disuse, structures that provide a window to the past are increasingly rare.  The Sappington House Foundation has preserved and shared the 1808 Thomas Sappington home for over fifty years. Now, we are saving a pristine log home dating to 1816; one of only a few left in the region. It will lead future generations to learn from our past by walking directly into the day-to-day lives of our predecessors.  

1816 Joseph Sappington House

Thomas Sappington’s house is the oldest brick home in St. Louis County; it stands where it was originally built in 1808. The home’s lawn has become the picturesque 2.5-acre Sappington Park with The Barn restaurant, The Library of Americana and Decorative Arts, and access to Grant's Trail. Next door sits Fr. Dickson’s Cemetery. 

This historic landmark was hand-built by members of the Sappington family. This same family also built the 1816 log home of Joseph Sappington. Joseph’s home has been saved, and reconstruction is underway across from Thomas’s inside the park. 

The two contrasting structures are not only beautifully preserved examples of early architecture, but together they tell us the stories of St. Louis’s first American settlers after the Louisiana Purchase. Additionally, Joseph’s log home will meet the foundation's current need for additional educational, exhibit, and event space. 

The nonprofit Sappington House Foundation has embarked on this important and costly project and has already raised a significant portion of the funds needed. The Joseph house has been carefully disassembled by Antique Logs Unlimited and has begun work in Sappington Park to reassemble Joseph Sappington's log home. 

There is still a great deal of work ahead, and continued fundraising is essential to complete the cabin. With your help, we can bring Joseph's home back to life. Will you help us restore and preserve the homes of this area’s first United States settlers?  

For further information, phone 314-822-8171 or visit Our Website