From Cathedral Book to Soulard’s “Onion House,” St. Louis Preservation Efforts Earn MO Honors
Pictured Above: The “Onion House” in Soulard
Date Posted: May 15, 2026
Posted In: Organizations, People,
by Tom Finan, Executive Director, Construction Forum
Historic preservation projects and leaders from the St. Louis region were prominently recognized earlier this month as Missouri Preservation presented its 2026 Honor Awards at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City.
The statewide awards program annually recognizes outstanding achievements in historic preservation, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse and preservation advocacy across Missouri. This year’s honorees included projects and individuals from St. Louis City, St. Louis County and other communities around the state.
Bode Baxter Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Among the highest-profile St. Louis honorees was preservation consultant Karen Bode Baxter, who received the prestigious Rozier Award for lifetime achievement in preservation. Based in St. Louis City, Baxter has spent more than three decades helping property owners navigate historic tax credits, National Register nominations and preservation-based redevelopment projects throughout Missouri and neighboring states.
Missouri Preservation noted Baxter’s long-standing leadership in preservation advocacy, including her work with Missouri Main Street Connection and years of service on the Missouri Preservation board. The organization praised her ability to make the often complex world of preservation regulations and redevelopment understandable and accessible to communities and developers alike.
Cathedral Book’s Research, Storytelling Noted
Another St. Louis-area recipient was architect and author John C. Guenther, whose book, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis — An Illustrated Timeline, received the Osmund Overby Award. The publication chronicles more than 350 years of regional and religious history tied to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis and its evolution as one of the country’s most architecturally significant religious structures.
Missouri Preservation cited the book’s extensive research, visual storytelling and focus on architectural craftsmanship, particularly the Basilica’s world-renowned mosaics and the history behind the construction and restoration of the landmark.
Several St. Louis-area rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects also earned Preserve Missouri Awards.
Among them were the rehabilitation of the Euclid East Condominiums, the “Onion House” in Soulard, along with the rehabilitation of Des Peres City Hall in St. Louis County.
The statewide list of Preserve Missouri Award winners also included projects in Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City, Truman, and other Missouri communities, highlighting the breadth of preservation activity occurring across the state.
The 2026 awards ceremony was held May 5 in the Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City. Missouri Preservation said the annual program is designed not only to celebrate preservation successes, but also to demonstrate to lawmakers and communities the economic and cultural value of historic preservation efforts across Missouri.