The Lemp Brewery came into being in 1864. It sits on a bed of limestone caves -- perfect for beer storage. By the mid-1870s, Lemp Brewery was the largest in St. Louis. The 29-building complex covered five city blocks. Operations at the Lemp Brewery came to a halt in 1919 with the implementation of Prohibition in the United States. It was forced to close down.

In 1922, the Lemp Brewery Complex was purchased by International Shoe Company. It operated for approximately 60 years before closing. I learned that in the 90s, the basements were actually used for raves. This year, it was even used as a Halloween haunted house! Sadly, the main building is now abandoned.

Located right in my neighborhood, the old Lemp Brewery will be the first in my series depicting the historic architecture St. Louis. I can’t wait to show you new pieces as my collection grows!

Original artwork is mixed media on watercolor paper | 11 x 14”