Loops of Legacy: Tatting, Crochet, and 250 Years of American Threadwork with Local Threads from Creve Coeur’s Past

Loops of Legacy honors 250 years of American history through the delicate arts of tatting and crochet, showcasing how needlework has reflected, recorded, and responded to cultural shifts from the colonial era to today. 

In celebration of the U.S. Semiquincentennial and Creve Coeur’s own rich heritage, this exhibit traces the evolution of looped fiber arts—from survival craft to decorative art, from personal expression to political symbolism. Visitors will encounter heirloom lace, wartime threadwork, modern installations, and community-submitted stories that reveal how thread connects us across generations. 

Through historic pieces, local artifacts, hands-on learning, and a community art project, Loops of Legacy invites you to discover how small stitches have shaped the fabric of American life.

Exhibit Hours: The Tappmeyer Homestead is open June, July, and August, the second and fourth Sundays from noon to 4:00 pm. The house will be open Saturday, June 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., as part of Historic Saint Louis. The house will also be open on the second Thursday of the month, May to September, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the Millennium Park concert season.

Share Your Story: Join “Loops of Legacy” – A Community Exhibit on Tatting & Crochet

Who taught you to stitch? (Or crochet, or knit?) What did you make for them—or with them? Add your loop to our legacy.

As part of the upcoming exhibit Loops of Legacy: Tatting, Crochet, and 250 Years of American Threadwork, we are inviting members of the Creve Coeur community to help us weave local voices and artifacts into our shared national history.

Do you have a family heirloom, handmade lace, a cherished doily, or a story about a loved one who tatted or crocheted? Whether it’s a piece from the Revolutionary era, a WWII Red Cross project, or a 1970s school fair ribbon, your history matters.

We are seeking:

• Locally made or passed-down tatting and crochet pieces
• Stories, photographs, or letters about fiber arts in your family
• Artifacts with ties to historical events or patriotic themes
• Contributions from modern-day makers who keep the craft alive

Submissions may be featured in the exhibit or on our website. Please reach out to TappmeyerHomestead@gmail.com with information about your submission by May 15. All borrowed materials will be returned after the exhibit.

Let’s celebrate Creve Coeur’s creative legacy—loop by loop.

Stamped in History: A Passport to St. Louis’ Past at St. Louis Lambert International Airport

Check out the new exhibit at the St. Louis Lambert International airport, featuring the Tappmeyer Homestead and other Historic St. Louis sites! The exhibit is located in terminal 1, near baggage claim next to concourse A. The exhibit closes September 1st.

Photo Credits: Jane DiCampo (@_jwd_photography)

Past Exhibits