The Story Found Us First
- f.artis
- May 12
- 4 min read
A Conversation at Forest Park That Turned Into Something Bigger
Sometimes the best stories are the ones you never planned to find.
We recently visited Forest Park after coming across an article about Alan Kretchmar and his book, Restoring the Glory: Forest Park from 1986 to 2026. The article immediately caught our attention — not just because of the history of Forest Park, but because of one sentence Alan said:
“I didn’t set out to write a book. It found me.”
That line stayed with us.
So we decided to visit the Forest Park Visitor Center to learn more about the book and the places featured inside it.
What happened next felt strangely familiar.
We walked into the Visitor Center and started a conversation with the man sitting behind the desk — not realizing at first that it was Alan himself.
No introduction. No scheduled meeting. No formal interview.
Just a conversation.
And honestly, that made the experience even more meaningful.
Alan has worked at the Visitor Center for many years since retiring from a 35-year career as an ophthalmologist in St. Louis. But speaking with him, you quickly realize he is much more than a volunteer or historian. He carries the city differently. Every conversation about Forest Park becomes a conversation about memory, transformation, preservation, and the people who quietly shape St. Louis over time.
As we talked, the discussion naturally shifted to the park's future — especially how the tornadoes on May 16, 2025, changed parts of the surrounding landscape and may influence plans, restoration efforts, and development throughout the area.
We even discussed the possibility that someday there could be another book documenting the next chapter of Forest Park’s evolution.
That idea hit us hard.
Because cities are never finished.
They change through storms. Through restoration.Through growth.Through people.Through time.
And suddenly, this no longer felt like a simple visit to learn about a book.
It felt like the beginning of something else.
At Expose This House, we originally set out to photograph homes and document transformation through architecture and real estate photography. But over time, we’ve started realizing that some of the most important stories in St. Louis aren’t hidden inside listings.
They’re hidden in conversations. In overlooked corners of neighborhoods. In old buildings. In the side streets. In parks. In local businesses. In people who have quietly dedicated their lives to preserving pieces of the city most of us pass every day without noticing.
That’s where this new idea begins.
A city-wide scavenger hunt.
Not for objects — but for stories.
Stories connected to:
places featured in Alan’s book,
overlooked landmarks,
forgotten details,
hidden architecture,
restoration projects,
neighborhood history,
and the people keeping St. Louis alive through care and memory.
We haven’t even read the book yet.
And maybe that’s the exciting part.
Because now the goal isn’t simply to buy a copy and place it on a shelf. The goal is to follow it. To let it guide us deeper into Forest Park, deeper into St. Louis, and deeper into the stories that continue shaping the city right now.
Maybe this journey leads to photographs. Maybe it leads to interviews. Maybe it becomes a video series. Maybe it becomes a visual archive of hidden St. Louis.
We don’t fully know yet.
But we do know this:
The conversation isn’t over.
In many ways, it feels like it just started.
And maybe, just like Alan said about his book…
This story found us, too. Here are the best current links and visitor details for locating Alan Kretchmar’s Restoring the Glory: Forest Park from 1986 to 2026 and exploring the St. Louis institutions mentioned in the article.
Purchase Link for the Book
The article also notes that copies are available locally through several St. Louis institutions and independent bookstores.
Local Places Mentioned in the Article
Missouri History Museum
Located inside Forest Park, this is probably the most fitting place to begin exploring the story behind the book and the city itself.
Address: 5700 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112
Hours:
Tues/Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun: 10 AM–5 PM
Thurs: 10 AM–8 PM
Phone: (314) 746-4599
Official site: Missouri History Museum
The museum is also preparing Forest Park’s sesquicentennial exhibits and programming connected to the park’s history.
Campbell House Museum
A beautifully preserved 19th-century historic home museum in downtown St. Louis.
Address: 1508 Locust St, St. Louis, MO 63103
Official site: Campbell House Museum
General Hours:
Wednesday–Saturday: 10 AM–4 PM
Sunday: Noon–4 PM
Closed Monday & Tuesday
This stop fits perfectly into the “hidden gems” theme because it captures another layer of St. Louis history and preservation culture.
Subterranean Books
One of St. Louis’ most beloved independent bookstores in The Loop.
Official site: Subterranean Books
Address: 6271 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63130
Typical Hours:
Daily: 10 AM–7 PM
This location especially aligns with the tone of your future blog series — local stories, independent voices, and neighborhood culture.
Leviathan Books
An independent bookstore located in the historic Cherokee Street district.
Official site: Leviathan Books
Address: 2325 Cherokee St, St. Louis, MO 63118
Typical Hours:
Thurs–Sun afternoons/evenings (hours vary)
Cherokee Street itself could become an entire future Expose This House feature series.
The Novel Neighbor
A highly respected independent bookstore known for community-centered literary events and regional authors.
Official site: The Novel Neighbor
Address: 7905 Big Bend Blvd, Webster Groves, MO 63119
Typical Hours:
Mon–Sat: 10 AM–6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM–4 PM
This would be an excellent place to potentially coordinate:
a local author conversation,
photography collaboration,
or a “Stories of St. Louis” community event.