21c Museum Hotel St. Louis Celebrates 100 Years of History and Three Years of Art, Culture and Community

There are celebrations, and then there are experiences that remind you why a building, a neighborhood and a city matter.

21c Museum Hotel St. Louis recently transformed its Locust Street property into a celebration of history, art, music and community, commemorating two significant milestones: the hotel’s third anniversary and 100 years of its historic home at 1528 Locust Street.

For one evening, the past and present came together throughout the property, giving guests an opportunity to experience the building’s history while celebrating the creative energy shaping St. Louis today.

A Century of St. Louis History

Long before becoming home to contemporary art, hospitality and dining, the building at 1528 Locust Street was part of another chapter of St. Louis history.

The anniversary celebration embraced those roots, including opportunities for guests to explore the restored Locust Street Athletic & Swim Club and see its original 1926-tiled swimming pool.

Rather than simply acknowledging the building’s century-long history, 21c incorporated it into the evening.

One of the night’s standout experiences was a one-night-only speakeasy inside the historic Library Suite. The intimate setting transported guests back to the building’s early years while cocktails from Idol Wolf Beverage Manager Dane Davis offered a contemporary interpretation of the era.

Idol Wolf continued the theme with a special 1920s-inspired cocktail menu paying homage to the property’s 1926 beginnings.

Art Takes Center Stage at 21c

As expected from a museum hotel, contemporary art remained at the heart of the celebration.

Guests explored artwork throughout the property, including the exhibition “Dress Up, Speak Up: Regalia and Resistance,” while an interactive printmaking experience with Central Print allowed attendees to create their own keepsake coasters.

It was an element that made the evening feel less like a traditional anniversary party and more like an immersive cultural experience.

That distinction has become an important part of the identity of 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis. The property operates at the intersection of hospitality and contemporary art, giving visitors an opportunity to encounter creative works beyond the walls of a traditional museum.

Live Music Brings Another Layer to the Celebration

The soundtrack matched the setting.

Live music from the Hard Bop Messengers brought jazz energy into the celebration before a late-night vinyl DJ set carried guests further into the evening.

Together, the music, cocktails, artwork and historic surroundings created a journey between eras — celebrating where St. Louis has been without losing sight of where its creative community is headed.

Celebrating Community Impact

The anniversary wasn’t solely about the building.

Community was also given a place in the spotlight as 21c recognized 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis as its August Community Impact Partner.

The recognition reinforced an important part of the evening: buildings may preserve history, but people and organizations are what continue shaping a city’s legacy.

For DELUX, that intersection of culture and community was particularly meaningful.

St. Louis’ story isn’t contained within a single generation. It lives through its architecture, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, organizations and residents who continue finding new ways to build upon what came before them.

100 Years Later, a New Chapter Continues

A century after 1528 Locust Street first became part of the city’s landscape, its story is still being written.

Today, 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis has created a space where a guest can stay overnight, experience contemporary art, enjoy food and cocktails, discover pieces of St. Louis history and engage with the city’s cultural community — all under one roof.

Its anniversary celebration captured that identity beautifully.

The evening wasn’t simply about looking backward at 100 years of history or marking three years since 21c arrived in St. Louis.

It was about connecting the two.

From the original 1926 swimming pool and speakeasy-inspired cocktails to contemporary artwork, printmaking and live music, the celebration demonstrated what can happen when history isn’t simply preserved — but reimagined for a new generation.

Congratulations to 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis on three years in the city and to 1528 Locust Street on an extraordinary century of history.

Here’s to the stories still to come. To learn more, visit https://21cmuseumhotels.com/st-louis/

Photo Credit: Donovann Sanders