Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Giant Three-Way Plug, Scale A, 1970-1971
Clacs Oldenburg, American (born Sweden), born 1929
| — | Cor - Ten steel and bronze | — |
Photographed by Thomas Smith, September 6, 2021
1. Giant Three-Way Plug, Scale A, 1970-1971 Marker
Clacs Oldenburg produces monumental sculptures of every day consumer objects. In this work, an enormous three - way electrical plug lies partly buried in the ground . The artist has described it as resembling " an implement left over from a war, returning to nature.' Oldenburg first installed the sculpture in this location in 1971, noting that the plug reminded him of historic architecture. Here, its arching lines and recessed spaces complement the classical design of the Museum's Main Building.
Gift of the Shoenberg Foundation, Inc. 21;1971
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music.
Location. 38° 38.364′ N, 90° 17.568′ W. Memorial is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Forest Park. It is on Fine Arts Drive 0.1 miles north of Government Drive, on the right when traveling west. The marker and sculpture stand in front of the St. Louis Art Museum. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Saint Louis MO 63110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in the American Midwest,
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Saint Louis Art Museum (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Apotheosis of St. Louis, 1904-1906 (about 400 feet away); Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (about 800 feet away); Grizzly Bear (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Grizzly Bear (approx. ¼ mile away); Now and Then: Where You Can Find Bears (approx. ¼ mile away); Why Are These Rocks Important? (approx. ¼ mile away); Saint Louis Zoo 2004: Gateway to the Animal World (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.
Photographed by Thomas Smith, September 6, 2021
2. Giant Three-Way Plug, Scale A, 1970-1971 Marker
Photographed by Garrett Koch, August 23, 2026
3. Giant Three-Way Plug, Scale A, 1970-1971 Marker - alternate context view
Photographed by Garrett Koch, August 23, 2026
4. Giant Three-Way Plug, Scale A, 1970-1971 Marker
Giant Three-Way Plug, Scale A, 1970-1971 Marker - alternate context view showing St. Louis Art Museum main entrance & "Apotheosis of Saint Louis" statue. The Museum was built in 1903 before the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition where it served as the Palace of Fine Arts. At the time it also had a huge annex on each side of the Palace. Across Fine Arts Dr. is the statue, "Apotheosis of St. Louis". This is the bronze recreation of the original staff version that stood at the Main Entrance of the World's Fair. And beyond that is a patio facing North, reminiscent of a balcony view from the Fair's famous Festival Hall which overlooked the Grand Basin, 8 of the 12 grand Palaces of the Fair, and what was referred to as the "Main View".
Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 393 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on September 6, 2026, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 7, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. 3. submitted on September 1, 2026, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri. 4. submitted on September 2, 2026, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
