What Is Scott Joplin House State Historic Site?
This was the home of Scott Joplin, the “King of Ragtime,” from 1901 until 1903!
What Makes It Historical?
Born in either Texarkana or Linden, Texas, Scott Joplin showed talent for piano at an early age, both in the classical style and in newer, more improvised music that originated among Black musicians. In particular, he loved Ragtime and spent lots of time touring and performing until 1899 when he published his first smash hit, the “Maple Leaf Rag!”
With a big boost to his income from “Maple Leaf Rag” royalties, Mr. Joplin and his wife, Belle, settled in the “Old North Area” of St. Louis, where he could focus more on teaching and composing than touring. In the next two years, he composed his most famous work, “The Entertainer,” along with “Elite Syncopations,” “March Majestic,” and his first opera, called “A Guest of Honor!”
Sadly, opera would be his undoing. After leaving St. Louis to tour with “A Guest of Honor,” someone stole all the box office receipts, which meant he couldn’t pay for lodging or payroll, which led to the score being destroyed and lost forever! He tried again in New York, an opera called “Treemonisha,” which was panned and not touched again until the 1970s. After Mr. Joplin died of syphilis in 1917, he was buried in an unmarked grave that went unrecognized until 1974, the year The Sting, which featured his music, won the Best Picture at the Academy Awards!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer with Missouri State Parks!
- Donate to Missouri State Parks!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
2658 Delmar Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63103
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The museum is open between February and October only! From March to October, it’s open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM, closed Mondays in February!
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