CEMENTLAND ARCHIVE is a growing collection of interviews, photographs, and other materials documenting Cementland: an iconic industrial ruin and art site in St. Louis, MO.
CEMENTLAND ARCHIVE is a growing collection of interviews, photographs, and other materials documenting an iconic industrial ruin in St. Louis, MO. In the 2000s, the St. Louis artist Bob Cassilly, known for the City Museum, set out to convert the abandoned Missouri Portland Cement factory into Cementland: part amusement park, part sculptural installation, part earthwork. The project stalled in the 2010s after Cassilly passed, but the site remained a wild patch of biodiversity and a popular hangout even as the property changed hands. We hope this archive will serve nuanced discussion of Cementland’s impact as a de facto active public art site that drew many curious visitors.
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sublunar
Personal narrative by sublunar, 2025
Personal narrative
sublunar
2025
2020–2029
2000–2011
2011–
6/2/2025
Sievers Studio
Missouri Historical Society

Photo by Sievers Studio, 1948 #2
Photo
Sievers Studio
Missouri Historical Society
1948
1940–1949
Missouri Portland Cement Company
1901–1981
4/28/2025
George A. Warren
Missouri Historical Society
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Marion Model 100 Steam Shovel by George A. Warren, 1913
Photo
George A. Warren
Missouri Historical Society
1913
1910–1919
Missouri Portland Cement Company
1901–1981
4/9/2025
Michael Allen
.jpg)
Interview with Michael Allen, 2024
Interview
Michael Allen
2024
2020–2029
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Architectural salvage & preservation
Brick
Urban exploration
Logistics industry
Housing
2011–
1982–1999
1901–1981
Bob Cassilly
7/19/2024
CJ
Personal narrative by CJ, 2024
Personal narrative
CJ
2024
2020–2029
2011–
North County
Bob Cassilly
1/6/2025
State Historical Society of Missouri

Post-Dispatch reporting on audit of County including Air Pollution Control, 1976
Document
State Historical Society of Missouri
1976
1970–1979
1901–1981
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Environmental hazards
North County
1/9/2025
Ruben Murphy
Personal narrative by Ruben Murphy, 2024
Personal narrative
Ruben Murphy
2024
2020–2029
2011–
1/8/2025
Richard Sprengeler
.jpg)
Narration of the series 'Cementland: Bob Cassilly's Unfinished Masterpiece' by Richard Sprengeler, 2024
Interview
Photo
Richard Sprengeler
2024
2020–2029
2000–2011
1901–1981
Photography
Graffiti
Environmental hazards
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Bob Cassilly
Architectural salvage & preservation
Urban exploration
1/13/2025
State Historical Society of Missouri

Statement by the League of Women Voters of St. Louis on Missouri Portland Cement Co., 1977
Document
State Historical Society of Missouri
1977
1970–1979
1901–1981
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Environmental hazards
North County
Bellefontaine Neighbors
Community organizing
1/9/2025
State Historical Society of Missouri

Post-Dispatch reporting on new regulation of Missouri Portland Cement Co. #2, 1977
Document
State Historical Society of Missouri
1977
1970–1979
1901–1981
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Environmental hazards
North County
Bellefontaine Neighbors
Community organizing
1/9/2025
Mike McCubbins

3D model by Mike McCubbins
3D Model
Artwork
Mike McCubbins
2025
2020–2029
2000–2011
Bob Cassilly
1/16/2025
Amy Scherer

Interview with Amy Scherer, 2024
Interview
Amy Scherer
2024
2020–2029
2000–2011
2011–
Architectural salvage & preservation
Bob Cassilly
Environmental hazards
Urban exploration
Housing
Riverview
North City
Real estate development
1/16/2025
State Historical Society of Missouri

Report on Missouri Portland Cement Co. by activist John Warnock, 1977
Document
State Historical Society of Missouri
1977
1970–1979
1901–1981
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Environmental hazards
North County
Bellefontaine Neighbors
Community organizing
1/9/2025
Regan

Interview with Regan, 2024
Interview
Regan
2024
2020–2024
1982–1999
2000–2011
2011–
Bob Cassilly
Architectural salvage & preservation
City Museum
Urban exploration
Mississippi River
1/11/2025
Bill Christman

Photo of Bob Cassilly's model of Cementland
Photo
Document
Bill Christman
2000–2009
2010–2019
Cementland
Bob Cassilly
2000–2011
11/15/2024

Baden News reporting on Missouri Portland Cement Co., 1976
Document
1976
1901–1981
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Environmental hazards
North County
Bellefontaine Neighbors
1/9/2025
State Historical Society of Missouri

Excerpt from St. Louis Chamber of Commerce survey on Missouri Portland Cement Co., 1948
Document
State Historical Society of Missouri
1948
1940–1949
1901–1981
–1900
Missouri Portland Cement Company
1/9/2025
Hugo Gyrl

Interview with Hugo Gyrl, 2025
Interview
Hugo Gyrl
2025
2020–2029
Bob Cassilly
City Museum
Mississippi River
Graffiti
Public art
2000–2011
2011–
4/29/2025
Yelyzaveta DiStefano

Photos by Yelyzaveta DiStefano #2, 2020
Photo
Yelyzaveta DiStefano
2020
2020–2029
2011–
1/9/2025
State Historical Society of Missouri

Post-Dispatch reporting on new regulation of Missouri Portland Cement Co., 1977
Document
State Historical Society of Missouri
1977
1970–1979
1901–1981
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Environmental hazards
North County
Bellefontaine Neighbors
Community organizing
1/9/2025