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Samuel Cupples House: A Gilded Age Mansion

Step back in time at this opulent 19th-century mansion, now a museum and art gallery on the Saint Louis University campus.

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The Samuel Cupples House, a Richardsonian Romanesque mansion on the Saint Louis University campus, offers a glimpse into the life of a wealthy 19th-century entrepreneur. Now a museum and art gallery, it showcases fine and decorative arts from before 1919, including the Eleanor Turshin Glass Collection.

A brief summary to Samuel Cupples House

Local tips

  • Admission is free, making it an affordable cultural experience.
  • The house is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m..
  • Limited metered parking is available on Lindell Boulevard.
  • Consider visiting during SLU student art exhibitions in the McNamee Gallery.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    The Samuel Cupples House is accessible via the MetroLink light rail system. Exit at the Grand Boulevard Station. Walk four blocks north, then turn left at the campus entrance nearest DuBourg Hall. The Cupples House will be ahead on the right. A single MetroLink fare is $2.50.

  • Walking

    From Midtown St. Louis, the Samuel Cupples House can be reached by walking. Head west on West Pine Boulevard until you arrive at 3673 West Pine Boulevard. The house will be on the right side of the street.

  • Driving

    When driving to the Samuel Cupples House, be aware that there is no dedicated parking lot. Limited two-hour metered parking is available on Lindell Boulevard. Additional parking is available in Saint Louis University's campus parking garages. The Laclede Garage is the closest and costs $2 per hour or $6 per day. Street parking is approximately $0.25 per 1/2 hour.

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Discover more about Samuel Cupples House

The Samuel Cupples House, located on the campus of Saint Louis University (SLU), stands as a testament to the grandeur of the Gilded Age. Built between 1888 and 1890 for Samuel Cupples, a wealthy St. Louis businessman, the mansion is a rare example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in a private residence. Designed by Thomas B. Annan, the house features 42 rooms, 22 fireplaces, intricate woodwork, and leaded glass windows. Cupples, a dealer in woodenware, commissioned the house to reflect his Anglo-Irish heritage and his appreciation for the Arts and Crafts movement. The exterior showcases delicate vines carved into the stone, along with mythical animals and dwarves adorning the rainspouts. Inside, English craftsmen created elaborate oak woodwork, while Tiffany-style windows cast colorful light throughout the rooms. After Cupples' death in 1912, Saint Louis University acquired the house in 1946. For many years, it served as a student center, even housing a bowling alley and bar in the basement. In 1973, a restoration project began to return the house to its original splendor. Today, the Samuel Cupples House is a museum and art gallery, housing SLU's collection of fine and decorative art dating from before 1919. Visitors can also view the Eleanor Turshin Glass Collection and exhibitions by SLU students and faculty in the McNamee Gallery.

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