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Eugene Field House
& St. Louis Toy Museum
DESCRIPTION: The Eugene Field House and St. Louis Toy Museum is the boyhood home of Eugene Field, the "Children's Poet," whose works include "Little Boy Blue" and "Dutch Lullaby" ("Wynken, Blynken, and Nod"). Field was co-founder and literary editor of the Missourian, the campus newspaper, when he was a student at the University of Missouri. He later joined the staff of the St. Louis Journal. "Christmas Treasures," his first published children's poem, was written in St. Louis. Although he became revered for his poetry, Field was a longtime newspaperman. Through the years he also worked for papers in St. Joseph, MO., Kansas City, Denver and Chicago. His collected works in 10 volumes were published the year after his death, and two more volumes were added in 1900.
Field's father, Roswell Martin Field, was a well-known St. Louis attorney. In 1853, the elder Field filed a lawsuit on behalf of Dred and Harriet Scott, two slaves seeking their freedom. The Scotts won their suit in St. Louis but lost on appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States which ruled that slaves were not citizens and therefore could not sue in federal court. The U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to overturn the ruling is believed to be a contributing factor to the Civil War.
In 1902 Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) dedicated a plaque marking the home as Field's birthplace. The plaque is still on the front of the house.
The home contains many furnishings which belonged to the Field family. Several rooms are used to display toy collections and traveling exhibits.
ADDRESS: 634 S. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102
LOCATION: Downtown
PHONE NUMBER: 314-421-4689
WEB SITE: www.eugenefieldhouse.org
METROLINK: Take MetroLink light rail to the Busch Stadium station. Walk to the east side of the stadium to Broadway and the house is one block south.
HOURS: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday; noon-4 p.m., Sunday. Closed Monday, Tuesday and national holidays. Open Jan.-Feb. by appointment only.
ADMISSION: $4, adults; $.50, children under 12
ANNUAL ATTENDANCE: 8,000
WHAT'S NEW: The Eugene Field House and St. Louis Toy Museum hosts three major traveling exhibits throughout the year. From March 3 through May 29, 2004, the museum hosts a Tribute to Lewis and Clark - toys and games of Native Americans and the Nation's westward expansion.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- The home is furnished with many items which belonged to the Field family.
- An exhibit features artifacts from Field's personal collection at "Sabine Farm," his Chicago home.
- A large collection of toys spanning several centuries and as well as dolls are always on display.
WHAT'S FUN FOR KIDS: Children will enjoy the toy collection on display in the house and a puppet show which is presented each December.
ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS: Each year the Eugene Field House is one of several historic homes in St. Louis that co-sponsor a Victorian house tour. During that time, the homes are decorated in Victorian style for Christmas. And each December the Missouri Arts Council sponsors a children's puppet show which is presented by the Puppet Guild of Greater St. Louis at the Eugene Field Home.
HISTORY: The land where the Field House now stands was deeded to the city of St. Louis in 1829 when Auguste Chouteau, one of the founding fathers of St. Louis, died. Revenues from the lease of the land were to go for the support of the city schools. In 1845, Edward Walsh leased the land from the school system and built a 12-unit row house on it. The buildings became known as Walsh's Row. Five years later, Roswell Martin Field and his wife leased the second unit from the south end. Eugene Field was born there on Sept. 3, 1850, and the family lived there until 1864.
In 1934 Walsh's Row was slated for demolition. Irving Dillard, a writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, wrote a passionate editorial decrying the destruction of Field's birthplace. A couple of citizens formed a committee to save the house and the next year school children in the public schools of St. Louis contributed nearly $2,000 to restore the house. It opened as a museum in 1936. The Board of Education ran the house until 1968 when the Eugene Field House Foundation Inc. took over that function.
HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY: The Eugene Field Home is not handicapped accessible.
GIFT SHOP: A gift shop in the home features toys, books and decorative items in the style of those used in the 19th century.
WHERE TO GET LUNCH: There are many restaurants in downtown St. Louis.
WHAT'S NEARBY: Busch Stadium, the Gateway Arch, Laclede's Landing, the Old Courthouse and the Old Cathedral are nearby.
PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: Julie Maio Kemper, 421-4689
Readers should call 1-800-916-0040 to request a free copy of the Official St. Louis Visitor Guide or point, click and explore St. Louis at www.explorestlouis.com
