Spotlight St. Louis: The Jewel Box

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE Saint Louis, Missouri. I’m an avid advocate for my city and I will be till the world ends! There’s so much to love about STL that I could post a thousand blogs highlighting all that I love and still not cover everything! Well, one such place that I love deeply is none other than the Jewel Box in Forest Park. A place that I find myself returning to time and time again, especially in the winter, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t lovable the other three months!

Built some ninety years ago in 1936, the Jewel Box is a historic Art Deco greenhouse that features a seasonal variety of tropical plants and flowers. The greenhouse is some fifty feet tall and is over 140 feet long and 55 feet wide giving it around 7,500 square feet of space. This incredible institution has been home to numerous weddings and special events throughout its time, including play host to mine and Melissa’s own wedding photos (some which you’ll see by the end of this post!)

So come along with me on this photographic journey through one of Saint Louis’s most photogenic places!

I went in early Spring, so the plants outside were just beginning to blossom.

Plenty of beautiful sculptures and various other works of art surround this Jewel Box.

I love sitting up on the upper balcony in the winter with a good book. It helps break up the monotony of those dreary months.

There are restrooms located behind this wall.

Plenty of the flowers are changed out seasonally so you could visit several times a year and it’d be a fresh experience each time!

Love all the shades of red and pink in these.

You may notice some of the glass in the distance is boarded up. When the May 2025 tornado tore through, it caused some damage, but they’re working on repairing this now.

There’s a handful of seats spread throughout so you can sit and truly enjoy and immerse yourself in this tropical surrounding.

Love me some palm trees. They might very well be my favorite tree, so just being in here brings me so much joy being around them.

We were blessed by the beauty of the Jewel Box on this day just like I have been every visit since.

The Jewel Box is open every day of the week, but hours do vary. Monday through Thursday they’re open from 9:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m., Friday’s are from 9:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m., Saturday’s are only from 9:00 a.m. till 11:00 a.m. and Sunday’s are from 9:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m..

Admission is $1 per person, but is free on Monday and Tuesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. till noon.

The Jewel Box is located in the heart of Forest Park at the intersection of Wells and McKinley Drives.

The Jewel Box phone number is (314) 531-0080, but if one is wondering about hosting a wedding or special event they should call (314) 289-5330.

More Spotlights on St. Louis:

Animals Aglow at the Saint Louis Zoo

Campbell House Museum

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis

JFP Equine Clydesdales

Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum

Museum of Illusions

Shaw Nature Reserve

SLUMA (St. Louis University Museum of Art)