Dogtown

The area known as "Dogtown" is the part of the St Louis city area that is centered in the neighborhood of Clayton/Tamm but also includes parts of the Hi-Pointe , Franz Park and Ellendale neighborhoods. It is located directly south of the Zoo and its boundaries roughly consist of Oakland Avenue and Highway 64 on the north, Hampton Avenue on the east, Interstate 44 on the South and the city limits on the west.

The little known nickname of "Brick City" was given to St. Louis in the nineteenth century because of all the clay mines located here, and consequently, for all the bricks that were produced from that clay. Look around! St. Louis has so many brick buildings that used the bricks produced from the clay mined right here in the city! Dogtown was one of the areas where many clay mines were located. Irish and Italian immigrants that came to St. Louis found jobs working in those clay mines, as well as the coal mines and laying the railroad lines in St. Louis. The Irish workers then settled with their families in the Clayton-Tamm Neighborhood of Dogtown. The Italians congregated in another famous neighborhood of St. Louis, "The Hill".

Because of its Irish heritage, Dogtown is the location of the St. Patrick's Day Parade that is sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians and is always held on March 17th each year. The parade route runs the whole length of Tamm Avenue, beginning at Oakland and ending at Manchester Road.

Located in the Clayton-Tamm Neighborhood of Dogtown, at the corner of Tamm and Oakland Avenue, is Turtle Park. Children love to come to Turtle Park to play and climb on the turtle sculptures. Those turtles were designed and sculpted by the late Robert Cassilly, maybe better known for his uniquely creative City Museum that is located in Downtown St. Louis.

Dogtown Neighborhood Related Links:

City of St Louis Website