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The Sheldon, designed by the noted
1904 World’s Fair architect Louis C. Spiering, was built in 1912 as the home
of the Ethical Society of St. Louis. Musicians and public speakers
throughout the years have enjoyed the perfect acoustics of the Sheldon
Concert Hall, earning The Sheldon its reputation as "The Carnegie Hall of
St. Louis." Well-known singers and ensembles have performed at The Sheldon,
and speakers such as Albert Einstein, Dwight Eisenhower and Ernest Hemingway
have spoken from its stage. The St. Louis Chapter of the League of Women
Voters was founded in The Sheldon’s Green Room.
When the Ethical
Society relocated to St. Louis County in 1964, The Sheldon became a
primarily music venue. In 1974 a former singer with the Duke Ellington
Orchestra purchased the facility and transformed The Sheldon into a church
and the site for many jazz and gospel concerts. A California attorney with a
love for chamber music purchased the building in 1984 at the urging of the
Paganini String Quartet and began operating The Sheldon in 1986 as a venue
for concerts and community events.
Determined to
preserve and establish The Sheldon as one of St. Louis’ greatest cultural
resources, the non-profit Sheldon Arts Foundation was formed in 1988. The
Foundation purchased the building in 1991. In 1998, The Sheldon expanded its
artistic focus to include six new art galleries in a $5 million dollar
expansion project. The Sheldon Art Galleries encompass 7,000 square feet and
feature exhibits on photography, architecture, St. Louis artists and
collection, jazz history, emerging artists and children’s art. The Sheldon's
renovations continued in 2001 with the installation of five new stained
glass windows designed by acclaimed artist Rodney Winfield. Titled "Theme
and Variation," they are designed to be seen both during the day and at
night.
The Sheldon is located in the heart of St. Louis’ Grand Center arts district
and continues to offer the St. Louis area a wealth of cultural resources in
the tradition of its visionary founders.
Visiting The Sheldon
Art Galleries
Visiting Hours
Tuesday & Thursday:
12 pm - 8 pm
Wednesday & Friday:
12 pm - 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 2
pm
Closed Monday &
Sunday
There is no charge to visit The Sheldon Art
Galleries.
Location: The Sheldon Art Galleries are located on
Washington Blvd. west of Grand Avenue. It is located in the Grand Center
neighborhood of St. Louis, which is centered on Grand Avenue just north of
the Grand exit of I-64/US-40.
 Learn more
about the
St. Louis area.
The Sheldon Art Galleries
- Official site of The Sheldon Art Galleries.
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