06/13/2026
Saint Louis History!
This unusual building in South St. Louis looks like something straight out of a fairy tale.
But its history is tied to one of the biggest battles in American history: the fight over alcohol.
Known as the Stork Inn, the building was constructed around 1910 by Anheuser-Busch during the growing temperance movement that would eventually lead to Prohibition.
The giant stork perched on the roof wasn’t just decoration. It promoted Malt-Nutrine, a malt beverage marketed by the brewery as a health tonic for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Today that sounds unbelievable, but at the time many Americans believed malt-based tonics had medicinal benefits.
As pressure mounted from Prohibition supporters, breweries looked for creative ways to improve their public image and keep customers loyal.
The building’s unusual triangular shape came from the odd lot it occupied, creating one of the most recognizable landmarks in South St. Louis.
More than a century later, it still stands as a reminder of a very different era, when one of America’s largest breweries fought to survive a movement that would soon change the nation forever.
History doesn’t always hide in caves, battlefields, or abandoned towns. Sometimes it’s hiding in plain sight on a street corner.
Follow Missouri Untold for more stories they don’t tell you in the brochure.
