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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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
Mike McCubbins

3D model by Mike McCubbins
3D Model
Drawing & collage
Mike McCubbins
2025
2020–2029
2000–2011
Bob Cassilly
1/16/2025
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

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
Thai Johnson
Personal narrative by Thai Johnson, 2023
Personal narrative
Thai Johnson
2023
2020–2029
2011–
Cops
1/2/2025
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
Paul Sableman

Interview with Paul Sableman, 2024
Interview
Paul Sableman
2024
2020–2029
2011–
Architectural preservation & salvage
Urban exploration
Photography
Real estate development
North County
North City
Brick
Cops
Housing
1/5/2025
Anonymous
Anonymous personal narrative #4, 2023
Personal narrative
Anonymous
2023
2020–2029
2000–2011
Bob Cassilly
1/6/2025
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
George A. Warren
Missouri Historical Society

Cement Trains 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
Sievers Studio
Missouri Historical Society

Photo by Sievers Studio, 1948 #4
Photo
Sievers Studio
Missouri Historical Society
1948
1940–1949
Missouri Portland Cement Company
1901–1981
4/28/2025
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
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
Ruben Murphy
Personal narrative by Ruben Murphy, 2024
Personal narrative
Ruben Murphy
2024
2020–2029
2011–
1/8/2025
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. #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
Anonymous
Anonymous personal narrative #2, 2023
Personal narrative
Anonymous
2023
2020–2029
2011–
Housing
1/2/2025
Internet Archive

Excerpt from History of the Portland Cement Industry in the United States, 1924
Document
Internet Archive
1924
1920–1929
Missouri Portland Cement Company
–1900
1901–1981
7/18/2025
Alease Dailes
Interview with Alderwoman Alease Dailes, 2024
Interview
Alease Dailes
2024
2020–2029
Mississippi River
Missouri Portland Cement Company
Bellefontaine Neighbors
North County
Real estate development
2011–
1901–1981
7/19/2024
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
Thai Johnson

Cementland Extreme Skate by Thai Johnson, 2023
Video
Drawing & collage
Thai Johnson
2023
2020–2029
2011–
1/2/2025
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
Max Cassilly

Interview with Max Cassilly, 2024
Interview
Max Cassilly
2024
2020–2029
1982–1999
2000–2011
2011–
Bob Cassilly
Environmental hazards
City Museum
Architectural salvage & preservation
Urban exploration
Cops
Lafayette Square
1/14/2025
Anonymous
Anonymous personal narrative #1, 2023
Personal narrative
Anonymous
2023
2020–2029
2011–
CIty Museum
1/2/2025
Bruce Gerrie

Interview with Bruce Gerrie, 2024
Interview
Bruce Gerrie
2024
2020–2029
1901–1981
1982–1999
2000–2011
2011–
Bob Cassilly
Architectural salvage & preservation
Lafayette Square
Mississippi River
Cops
Lafayette Square
1/15/2025
George A. Warren
Missouri Historical Society
%20Large.jpeg)
Train Going Over Bridge 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
4/9/2025