Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
River Des Peres Sewage and Drainage Works
Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 13, 2019
1. River Des Peres Sewage and Drainage Works Marker
[Top plaque:]
The River Des Peres Sewage and Drainage Works extends 14 miles from the city limits northwest to Delmar and Skinker to the Mississippi River south of the city.
Four miles of massive, enclosed reinforced concrete sewers and 10 miles of open channel were constructed from 1924 to 1933 by the City of St. Louis, making this facility one of the largest of its kind in the world.
[Bottom plaque:]
Civil Engineering Landmark
River Des Peres
Sewerage and Drainage Works
Owner — Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
Re-dedicated by the
St. Louis Section of the American
Society of Civil Engineers
October 27, 2008
[Plaque on rear:]
Civil Engineering Landmark
River des Peres
Sewerage and Drainage Works
Designated 1988
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the ASCE Civil Engineering Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.
Location. 38° 37.983′ N, 90° 16.113′ W. Marker
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The James S. McDonnell Planetarium of the Saint Louis Science Center (approx. 0.2 miles away); Steinberg Skating Rink (approx. Ό mile away); Carl and Gerty Cori and Carbohydrate Metabolism (approx. 0.3 miles away); Restoring the Glory (approx. 0.3 miles away); Boeing Aviation Fields (approx. 0.4 miles away); Campus Rededication
Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 13, 2019
2. River Des Peres Sewage and Drainage Works Marker
Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 13, 2019
3. Back of the marker
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 15, 2019
4. River Des Peres Sewage and Drainage Works Marker
Jefferson Lake is seen on the right
Photographed by Garrett Koch, March 26, 2025
5. River Des Peres Sewage and Drainage Works Marker
The main sign for this marker atop the concrete podium has been missing for many months. This photo of the podium is actually from Google Maps but I confirmed the missing sign on March 26, 20025.
Photographed by Garrett Koch, August 23, 2026
6. River Des Peres Sewage and Drainage Works Marker
River Des Peres Sewage and Drainage Works Marker - update - nearby "You Are Here" Forest Park map is now updated. Previous map was either damaged or completely bleached out with sun and precipitation due to southern exposure.
It should also be noted, not mentioned in the marker's description, the enclosure of River des Peres actually started in 1902 in preparation for the 1904 World's Fair. More of a creek, really, but due to its very large drainage plain (in both STL city & county - its source beginning near Warson Rd. north of Olive St. Rd.), it becomes a monstrous tumult and dangerous in the metro area during heavy rains.
When Forest Park was selected as the site for the World's Fair, one of the first agenda items was to enclose the stream into a large, wooden underground channel and drain the swampy area within the Park so that the Fairgrounds would be safe and dry, eliminating possible negative impact on the Fair. The river entered the channel east of Lindell & Skinker, wound around the foundations of several of the huge Fair palaces, and exited back into its original channel on the east side of the Fairgrounds, all covered with an asphalt drive paved over the top of it.
In 1915, when a Gulf of Mexico hurricane made its way north, stalling over STL for days, it flooded the Dogtown area south of Forest Park so badly that 11 people drowned. Before 1924, a plan and an overwhelmingly supported bond issue passed and work began to rebuild the channel from University City all the way through Forest Park and south along the city's southwestern boundary to its mouth at the Mississippi River as the marker clarifies.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,551 times since then and 129 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 17, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 5. submitted on September 15, 2025, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri. 6. submitted on August 24, 2026, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
