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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Dave Blum

Interview with Dave Blum, 2024
Interview
Dave Blum
2024
2020–2029
2000–2011
2011–
Mississippi River
Environmental hazards
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Bob Cassilly
Architectural salvage & preservation
Urban exploration
City Museum
Cops
1/12/2025
State Historical Society of Missouri

Environmental organizing letter to Bellefontaine Neighbors residents, 1974
Document
State Historical Society of Missouri
1974
1970–1979
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Environmental hazards
Community organizing
North County
Bellefontaine Neighbors
7/19/2024
Anonymous
Anonymous personal narrative #4, 2023
Personal narrative
Anonymous
2023
2020–2029
2000–2011
Bob Cassilly
1/6/2025
George A. Warren
Missouri Historical Society

Men in Engine Room by George A. Warren, 1907–1918
Photo
George A. Warren
Missouri Historical Society
1900–1909
1910–1919
Missouri Portland Cement Company
1901–1981
Mississippi River
4/28/2025
State Historical Society of Missouri

North County Journal reporting on Missouri Portland Cement Co., 1976
Document
State Historical Society of Missouri
1976
1970–1979
1901–1981
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Environmental hazards
North County
Bellefontaine Neighbors
1/9/2025
Yelyzaveta DiStefano

Photos by Yelyzaveta DiStefano, 2020
Photo
Yelyzaveta DiStefano
2020
2020–2029
2011–
1/9/2025
Emma Mohrmann
Personal narrative by Emma Mohrmann, 2023
Personal narrative
Emma Mohrmann
2023
2020–2029
2011–
Graffiti
Brick
Ecology
1/2/2025
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
Missouri Historical Society
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Map of Prospect Hill showing Missouri Portland Cement Co. plant, 1909
Document
Missouri Historical Society
1909
1900–1910
Missouri Portland Cement Company
1901–1981
North County
4/9/2025
Mike Roth, video artist

Cupid's Gun by Mike Roth & Mvstermind, 2014
Video
Mike Roth, video artist
2014
2010–2019
2011–
1/6/2025
Anonymous
Anonymous personal narrative #5, 2023
Personal narrative
Anonymous
2023
2020–2029
2011–
Graffiti
1/6/2025
Sievers Studio
Missouri Historical Society

Photo by Sievers Studio, 1948
Photo
Sievers Studio
Missouri Historical Society
1948
1940–1949
Missouri Portland Cement Company
1901–1981
4/28/2025
Richard Sprengeler

Interview with Richard Sprengeler, 2024
Interview
Richard Sprengeler
2024
2020–2029
Photography
Urban exploration
Architectural salvage & preservation
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Bob Cassilly
North City
Housing
2011–
1982–1999
1901–1981
1/13/2025
State Historical Society of Missouri

Post-Dispatch reporting on Missouri Portland Cement Co.'s appeal, 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
Danya Gerasimova

'Stacked' poster by Danya Gerasimova
Drawing & collage
Danya Gerasimova
2024
2020–2029
2011–
1901–1981
Missouri Portland Cement Company
1/21/2025
Sievers Studio
Missouri Historical Society

Photo by Sievers Studio, 1948 #3
Photo
Sievers Studio
Missouri Historical Society
1948
1940–1949
Missouri Portland Cement Company
1901–1981
4/28/2025