Kirkwood
RESIDENTS ARE DRAWN TO THE FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOODS, VIBRANT DOWNTOWN AND STRONG TRADITIONS
Kirkwood is loosely bordered by Manchester to the north, I-270 to the west, Hwy-44 to the south and Webster Groves to the east, providing convenient major traffic arteries to throughout the St. Louis Metro Area. It was the first planned suburb west of the Mississippi River.
Today, the city is called the “Queen of the St. Louis Suburbs.” Kirkwood is often likened to Bedford Falls, the fictional town in the film, It’s a Wonderful Life, because of its stately tree-lined avenues, vibrant downtown, and historic homes. Attractions in Kirkwood include the Powder Valley Nature Center, The Magic House, downtown Kirkwood, beautiful parks, and festivals.
The historic Kirkwood Train Station hosts the Missouri River Runner train that runs from Kansas City to St. Louis, making stops in charming towns along the Missouri River. A favorite Autumn excursion is to the wineries along the River at Hermann and Augusta.
Kirkwood owes its very existence to the railroads. Around the 1800s, the land that would eventually become Kirkwood was the very first suburb to be developed west of the Mississippi River and it was also one of the earliest railroad commuter suburbs. In 1893, the beautiful landmark of the Kirkwood Train Station was built right in the heart of the city further cementing Kirkwood’s deep affection for all things train and transportation.
During the summer of 2002, Amtrak was incredibly close to shutting down the Train Station for good. Kirkwood residents fought to purchase and staff the entire station themselves. To this day, it is currently staffed and maintained by a dedicated group of local volunteers.
Kirkwood was placed in the National Register of Historic Places as both the Kirkwood Train Station and the Downtown Business District were inducted in 2001 and 2009 respectively.
Residents of Kirkwood with children are served by the award-winning Kirkwood School District, one of the oldest districts in St. Louis County, with history dating back to 1865.
Traditions
Since its grand opening in 1979, the The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum receives over 500,000 visitors annually and delights children with providing a hands-on learning experience that stimulates creativity and experimentation through the development of problem-solving skills.
Powder Valley Nature Center:
A popular spot located in the Downtown Business District of Kirkwood is the Farmers’ Market, which provides a wide variety of homegrown vegetables and fruits for the community to shop and enjoy from local vendors. The Farmers’ Market also hosts special events to enrich the community and provide wellness and nutritional education. Some of the more popular seasonal events include the Pumpkin Patch Harvest Market that runs during the fall and the winter Christmas Market that lights up the holiday season with a fully light Christmas tree and wide array of holiday décor.
Every year in September, the Greentree Festival is held in Kirkwood Park at the corner of Adams Avenue and Geyer Road.
