Tour the St. Vincent Orphanage (now Core Collective)

St. Louis Historic Sites History Meetup NEW Event Will go again: 2034 Cost: Please bring at least $10 donation - this goes to kids! Since 1850, the St Vincent Orphanage (now Core Collective) has been caring for children in need in greater St. Louis. Today, nearly 200 youths are at risk for homelessness on any given day in the St. Louis region. We are able to tour their current building (built in 1914) and learn about their programs. A very timely tour since it is the week before Thanksgiving and we can do our part to help kids in St. Louis by donating $10 to tour the building and hear about the orphanage's history. "The German St. Vincent Orphanage Association was founded in 1850 following a cholera epidemic and a fire, both of which occurred the previous year and left many St. Louis children orphaned. "Five sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet took charge of the new home in 1851 and the first orphan, Anna Schwerdt, arrived on July 25 that year. Within two months of opening its doors, the orphanage became home to some 30 children. "In 1914, a 20-acre plot Normandy Park was purchased for $18,000. The Cornerstone for the new Home was set on June 15, 1916 and the children moved into their new home in Normandy on August 8, 1917." from https://thecorecollectivestl.org/about-us/#our-history