Proceeding south from the field surrounding the mansion, the original animal park that Edwin Lemp used to breed and keep exotic animals is largely intact, and the crags that gave the name to his estate still awe visitors along the ridge line, which looks out over the Meramec Valley. It drops down steeply to the east as well, into a hollow that plunges down at least one hundred feet.

The stone above, creeping down the hill, shows the limestone strata that typify this area, once a large inland sea.

Farmland has been regrettably replaced by the sprawl of the former Chrysler Plant, now demolished, and an industrial park.

But the beauty of the area still shows why so many famous families chose this area for their country estates.

Come see my lecture about the architecture of Louis Sullivan at the Saint Louis Art Museum this Thursday, Jan. 7th at 11:00 AM and Jan. 8th at 6:00 PM.