Lemay in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Jefferson Barracks Historic Site - Tent City

Photographed by Thomas Smith, February 21, 2022

1. Jefferson Barracks Historic Site - Tent City Marker

Inscription.
Tent cities stood in the area between Grant Road and Gregg Road. Most of the training squadrons for the Army Air Corps were housed there in 6 to 8 man hutments [tents]. The hutments were found to be extremely cold during the winter months, and the tent cities gained colorful names such as "Valley Forge" and "Pneumonia Gulch."

During World war II there was a drill area at the top of the hill near the trailhead at the north end of the walking trail. This was known as "Jeep Hill" because it was where the new recruits (Jeeps) were trained in close order drill.

As reported in the St. Louis Star-Times September 20, 1941: "During the past year changes have swept across every one of the 1,781 acres. The oaks and elms on their gently rolling hills now look down upon five separate areas of thickly - populated structures. There are two tent cities. Construction workers are busily finishing three acres of 63 - man barracks building. A year ago when the Sixth Infantry was stationed at the the post, it could accomodate 1,500 men. Now there are more than 10,000 men, and before the month is out there will be between 20,000 and

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25,000. There are three movie theaters and as many chapels: five baseball diamonds, a swimming pool and a brand new athletic field with bleachers to seat 3,360. Nine mess halls are now in operation, and there are to be nine more."

Erected by Friends of Jefferson Barracks; St. Louis County Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.

Location. 38° 31.122′ N, 90° 16.603′ W. Marker is in Lemay, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It is at the intersection of Bagby Road and Mississippi River Greenway, on the right when traveling south on Bagby Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 490 Bagby Rd, Saint Louis MO 63125, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also 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 Viceroyalty

Photographed by Thomas Smith, February 21, 2022

2. Jefferson Barracks Historic Site - Tent City Marker

of New France,

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: Jefferson Barracks Historic Site North Gate (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Jefferson Barracks Historic Site - Visitors Center, Laborer House and Stable (about 500 feet away); Missouri Military Memorial (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Jefferson Barracks Historic Site North Gate (about 600 feet away); Operation Desert Shield & Desert Storm (about 600 feet away); Military Post History (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jefferson Barracks Historic Site - Old Ordnance Room (approx. ¼ mile away); 173rd Airborne (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lemay.

Another marker is no longer nearby. A Longstanding, Strategically Central Military Post (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Additional commentary.
1. Marker moved!
The location of this marker is not where it is defined in the "Location" paragraph of this page nor at the

Photographed by screen grab of Google Maps Street View, June 8, 2025

3. Jefferson Barracks Historic Site - Tent City Marker

dropped pin as shown on the HMDB map. It has been located several hundred yards west along Cyr Rd, about 100 yds from the restroom pavilion at 252 Cyr Rd. The marker is adjacent to the parking spaces right at the intersection of the sidewalks there.
The photos on this HMDB page show it in the correct location. I will upload a photo giving a bit more identification of its precise location.

— Submitted June 8, 2025, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 23, 2022, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 488 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 23, 2022, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. 3. submitted on June 8, 2025, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.