Orthwein Mansion, Colonial Revival mansion in Central West End, St. Louis, US.
The Orthwein Mansion on Portland Place features a symmetrical limestone facade with classical columns and neoclassical details throughout. Large windows punctuate the exterior, creating a balanced and formal appearance typical of homes built during that era.
William D. Orthwein, a German immigrant, commissioned architects Widmann, Walsh, and Boisselier to build this residence in 1900. His grain trading business provided the wealth needed to construct such a substantial home during St. Louis's industrial boom.
The mansion shows how successful business owners in early 1900s St. Louis wanted to display their wealth through grand architecture. Walking through the Portland Place neighborhood, you can see how these homes reflected the ambitions of industrial-era entrepreneurs.
The residence sits near Forest Park in an established neighborhood filled with similar grand homes from the same period. Visiting during daylight hours is best for seeing the architectural details and appreciating the surrounding streetscape.
William R. Orthwein, the owner's son, trained at this residence and won bronze medals in swimming and water polo at the 1904 St. Louis Olympic Games. This athletic connection to the home and the city is a forgotten detail that shows how ordinary residents were linked to major historical events.
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