Saint Louis University Museum of Art
The formal art museum of Saint Louis University, housed in a historic Beaux-Arts building in St. Louis, Missouri.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Saint Louis University Museum of Art is the formal art museum affiliated with Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. The museum occupies a historic four-story building at 3663 Lindell Boulevard, commonly known as Doris O'Donnell Hall. Rather than being a commercial consumer brand, it functions as a university cultural institution whose activities center on the preservation, interpretation, exhibition, and teaching of art. The building was completed in 1900 for the St. Louis Club, an organization established in 1878. Designed primarily by Arthur Dillon of the New York architectural firm Friedlander and Dillon, it is an example of Beaux-Arts architecture. Its exterior features a raised basement faced in rusticated limestone, a high-pitched mansard roof, a formal central entrance block with Ionic columns and a corbelled entablature, and flanking sections with tall casement windows and ornamental wall dormers. The building is recognized as a historic landmark by the city of St. Louis. The site also has a connection to important episodes in the city's civic history. Prince Henry of Prussia was entertained at the St. Louis Club during his 1902 visit. Planning connected with the 1904 World's Fair took place at the club, and the building was visited by several United States presidents, including Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Warren G. Harding. A fire in 1925 altered the building's institutional trajectory. Following the fire, the F. W. Woolworth Company acquired the property and converted it for office use as the company's regional headquarters. Saint Louis University later purchased the building in 1992 from alumnus Dr. Francis O'Donnell Jr. The university initially used the structure for classrooms before converting it into an art museum in 1998. The name Doris O'Donnell Hall honors Dr. O'Donnell's mother, who was a longtime university employee. The museum's collection and exhibition program encompass modern, contemporary, and historically significant works. As reported in April 2022, the permanent collection contained 241 works, including pieces associated with artists such as Achille Perilli, Adam Emory Albright, Anton Heyboer, and Salvador Dalí. Earlier exhibitions have presented work by Leon Bronstein, Tennessee Williams, Leo Ray, and Edward Boccia. The institution therefore combines the functions of a collecting museum, an exhibition venue, and a university resource for students, faculty, and the broader St. Louis community. Its positioning is primarily educational and cultural rather than commercial. The museum's identity derives from Saint Louis University's academic mission, its location in a historically important building, and its role in making art accessible through exhibitions and the care of a permanent collection. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate corporate ownership structure, a commercial product portfolio, or a broad international operating network.
History
Saint Louis University Museum of Art operates in a building whose history predates the museum by nearly a century. The four-story structure was completed in 1900 as the home of the St. Louis Club, a private organization founded in 1878. Its principal architect was Arthur Dillon, working with the New York firm Friedlander and Dillon. The building's Beaux-Arts design uses a formal, symmetrical composition, a rusticated limestone basement, a mansard roof, Ionic columns, ornamental dormers, and substantial window surrounds. During its years as the St. Louis Club, the building was associated with several notable civic and political events. Prince Henry of Prussia was hosted there during a 1902 visit to St. Louis. Planning for the 1904 World's Fair was conducted in part at the site, and the building received visits from Presidents Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Warren G. Harding. A fire in 1925 marked a major transition. The F. W. Woolworth Company subsequently purchased the property and adapted it for office use, making it a regional headquarters. The building remained in commercial office use until Saint Louis University acquired it in 1992 from alumnus Dr. Francis O'Donnell Jr. The university first used the property for classrooms. In 1998, it converted the building to use as an art museum. The museum building is also called Doris O'Donnell Hall. That name commemorates Dr. O'Donnell's mother, who worked for many years at Saint Louis University. The city of St. Louis has designated the structure a historic landmark, giving the museum an architectural and preservation role in addition to its artistic and educational functions. The institution's permanent collection includes modern and contemporary works and, according to information reported in April 2022, consisted of 241 pieces. Artists represented in descriptions of the collection include Achille Perilli, Adam Emory Albright, Anton Heyboer, and Salvador Dalí. The museum has also mounted exhibitions devoted to or featuring artists and cultural figures including Leon Bronstein, Tennessee Williams, Leo Ray, and Edward Boccia. Its activities are best understood as those of an academic museum: it maintains a collection, organizes exhibitions, and provides a cultural setting connected to the university and the wider St. Louis public.
- 2022
Collection reported at 241 works
[1]Reference material reported that the museum's permanent collection contained 241 pieces as of April 2022.
- 1998
Building converted into an art museum
[1]Saint Louis University adapted the former club and office building for use as its formal art museum.
- 1992
Saint Louis University acquires the building
[1]Saint Louis University purchased the property from alumnus Dr. Francis O'Donnell Jr. and initially used it for classrooms.
- 1925
Fire and conversion to office use
[1]A fire preceded the building's acquisition by F. W. Woolworth Company and its conversion into regional offices.
- 1904
World's Fair planning associated with the site
[1]Planning connected with the 1904 World's Fair was carried out at the St. Louis Club building.
- 1902
Prince Henry of Prussia visits the club
[1]The building hosted an event for Prince Henry of Prussia during his visit to St. Louis.
- 1900
Historic building completed
[1]The Beaux-Arts building at what is now 3663 Lindell Boulevard was completed for the St. Louis Club.
- 1878
St. Louis Club founded
[1]The organization for which the museum building was originally constructed was established in St. Louis.
Products and positioning
A university-affiliated art museum combining collection stewardship, exhibitions, art education, and historic-place interpretation in St. Louis.
Museum collection
Permanent collection
The museum's permanent collection is the institution's principal long-term artistic resource. Reference material reported 241 works as of April 2022. Artists identified in descriptions of the collection include Achille Perilli, Adam Emory Albright, Anton Heyboer, and Salvador Dalí. The collection supports display, interpretation, and the museum's university-related educational role.
Exhibitions · 1998
Temporary exhibitions
Saint Louis University Museum of Art presents changing exhibitions in addition to displays drawn from its permanent holdings. Past exhibitions have included work by Leon Bronstein, Tennessee Williams, Leo Ray, and Edward Boccia. These exhibitions extend the museum's program beyond collection stewardship and provide a public-facing platform for artists and cultural subjects.
Cultural venue · 1998
Historic museum facility
Doris O'Donnell Hall is itself a significant institutional offering. The former St. Louis Club building is a Beaux-Arts landmark with a limestone basement, mansard roof, Ionic columns, ornamental dormers, and a formal tripartite façade. Its historic setting gives exhibitions and museum activities an architectural and civic context.
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