HISTORIC SAPPINGTON HOUSES
Joseph Sappington Log Home
Historic structures send us into our past by allowing us to walk through the day-to-day lives of our predecessors and learn from their stories and struggles. But St. Louis's history is vanishing as our historical buildings fall. Help save a wonderfully preserved log home today so it will enlighten future generations.
Introduction
Historic structures transport us into our past where we wrestle with the
complicated reality of our society’s origins, but St. Louis's historic
buildings are disappearing. Whether in service to civic development or
due to decay and disuse, structures that provide a window to the past
are increasingly rare. The Sappington House Foundation and
the City of Crestwood have preserved and shared the 1808 Thomas Sappington home for 55 years and are reassembling a pristine log home dating to 1816; one of only a few left in the region.
This home will complement its cousin structure (literally, the owners were
first cousins: Thomas and Joseph Sappington) inside Sappington Park
in Crestwood. While it is optimal for historic buildings to remain in their
original location, that is not possible in this case. The Foundation is relocating and reassembling it to be preserved in perpetuity and open to the public. The Sappington House Foundation is currently rebuilding the log home and raising the final funds needed to make this project a reality.
Overview
The Sappington House Foundation is a cultural cornerstone in Crestwood and is now responsible for restoring and preserving two historic architectures: the brick Thomas Sappington House Museum built in 1808 and the Joseph Sappington Log Home built in 1816. The Foundation promotes education and history programming with a board of directors, one staff member, and a team of volunteers. Every year thousands of visitors experience the Thomas Sappington House Museum and participate in its events. Tens of thousands see this pillar of our past while commuting on the main thoroughfare, Sappington Road, and walking and cycling on Grant’s Trail, part of the Great Rivers Greenway.
The houses are located inside Sappington Park. The park and the original home are owned by the City of Crestwood. The City maintains the exterior of the brick home as well as the lawns, pond, and fountain inside the park. The Foundation maintains the interior of this building and the formal flower, herb, and pollinator gardens found around the property. The Foundation itself will maintain the Joseph log home while Crestwood will continue its current role with the grounds and the original brick home. The Foundation is responsible for both historic buildings, currently only Thomas’s is functional and open to the public. The Thomas Sappington House Museum remains on its original limestone foundation as an outstanding example of Federal architecture, rare in Missouri. The Joseph Sappington home is being reassembled inside the park and will be open to the public in 2026
Joseph originally constructed the log home for his family about five miles away, in what now
is Affton. Private owners preserved the log home for years until their deaths. The Foundation acquired approval from the City of Crestwood to move the log home to Sappington Park and begin construction. It is in exceptional condition and will provide a unique opportunity to tell the story of our past through a pioneer family whose members built two vastly different
homes during the same period. Both the log and brick homes were built in the Louisiana
Territory before Missouri became a state in 1821. At the time, about 300 residents lived in St. Louis City, and the County was a wilderness.
Currently Sappington Park, in close proximity to Grant’s Trail, Father Dickson Cemetery, Sappington Cemetery, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, and Hawken House, serves as a hub for this culturally significant historic district. In addition, Sappington Park is next door to the new Crestwood Crossing development, boasting a Dierbergs Market, Mercy-GoHealth Urgent Care, Panera Bread drive-thru, Crumbl Cookie, and other retailers as well as 81 McBride single-family homes. The relocation of the Joseph Sappington log home will provide a new cultural resource for this dynamic, growing community.
Sappington Park's Future
"We must remember our story so that we can learn its lessons and build an even stronger community going forward."
The Need
The Foundation’s mission is to preserve the past by inspiring generations to discover and appreciate their own and the community's heritage, which includes not only the prominent
Sappington family but also the Native Americans and African Americans who shared their wilderness experience and are an important part of our complex history. The power of walking
through historic structures is a sensory experience that illuminates the past. By bringing history to life, school children and life-long learners are engaged to gain a deeper understanding of our
mutual past and help us build an even stronger community in the future.
Too many buildings of the past have been lost. Now is the time to come together to safeguard this historic structure as it becomes a useful and vibrant venue for our community.
The reconstruction of the log home has begun. The Architectural plans and “MEPs” (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing designs) have been approved by the City of Crestwood and St. Louis
County. Part of the rebuilding will include ADA-compliant restrooms, a catering kitchen, and a full-length porch that will be an attractive addition for special events, concerts, and plays at the base of a natural amphitheater.
With the completion of the Joseph Sappington log home the indoor space available will triple. There will be a needed expansion of educational activities, exhibits, and events. The main floor will house the museum space, a welcome center to sell tickets, a small gift shop, and meeting rooms. The second floor will serve as office and storage space. The basement will function as a storage area for playhouse props, lighting, etc.
Mark Pratt, owner of Antique Logs Unlimited, is preparing the construction materials to reassemble the home at its new location with minimal disruption to the park. It will be more than a museum. It
will once again be a living, breathing gathering place.
The work to preserve the 1816 Joseph Sappington Log Home will occur in three phases.
Phase 1: Disassembly Completed. The logs were numbered and detailed studies of the original
structure were made. The house was carefully dismantled. Stones were saved from the fireplaces and foundation for reuse.
Phase 2: Rough-in. 2025-Spring 2026 This is the current phase of the project. It includes clearing the land inside Sappington Park, rerouting utilities, pouring the foundation, and the meticulous reassembly on the park grounds.
Phase 3: Finish work. Summer - Fall 2026. The 1816 log home will be discreetly updated with modern HVAC, electricity, and plumbing. It will be transformed into a safe and functional space for visitors of all ages.
Budget: Total: $800,000.
Phase 1: $200,000 to disassemble the home.
Phase 2: $450,000 to move, reassemble, and restore the home in Sappington Park.
Phase 3: $150,000* to update the building for public use.
*The City of Crestwood has agreed to reimburse the Foundation the majority of Phase 3 funds after the completion of the other phases.
A longtime Boone Village interpreter William Ray says, “Anyone who sees hand-hewn logs has a transformative experience.” Seeing a log home in real life reveals that we are not just talking about obscure historical facts, but about people like us who built homes and lives for their families during trying times.
When the 1816 Joseph Sappington Log Home is finished, we will not be writing on dry parchment, but opening the pages of history to a new, exciting chapter for Crestwood and all of St. Louis. The Foundation has completed Phase 1 and started Phase 2. It has raised $350,000 and is now reassembling the home while raising the final funds needed. Please be part of this important building project that preserves our American heritage for future generations.
The 1816 log home is also listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
