The innovation of photography amazed people at the end of the 19th century. They took photos of everything. The typical conceit of wealthy 19th-century families in the Gilded Age allowed them the luxury of sharing their homes with visitors through photographs.
Because the Cupples family took advantage of this luxury, historians have seen how the Cupples family lived in 1890, shortly after they moved into their expansive new home.
The furnishings in many of the original rooms were inconsistent with the wealth of Samuel Cupples, perhaps a result of the family bringing old furnishings from their former home and then mixing them with items purchased for their new home. One can only suspect that the Cupples family must have liked this eclectic combination because they commissioned the photographers Boehl & Koenig of St. Louis to photograph each of the 42 rooms of the house, including bathrooms.
The styles of fabric, carpet and wallpaper patterns of the original furnishings reflected architect Thomas Annan's interest in the designs of William Morris and the furniture of the English Arts and Crafts Movement.
Cupples House Today
Saint Louis University Cupples House Main Hall View
Cupples House Floorplans
Samual Cupples House First Floor
- Cupples House First Floor: The floorplans of Cupples House show (clockwise from the main entrance) the main floor with a first-floor reception room, library, music room, main hall, Flemish room, conservatory, lounge, servant's dining room, kitchen, storage, butler's pantry, dining room and front foyer opening to the main entrance.
- Cupples House Second Floor: The floor plans for the second floor, from the southeast corner going clockwise, show a southeast sitting room, reception room, southwest sitting room, central bedroom, bath, rear bedroom, minstrel balcony and main hall, two servant rooms, linen storage, master bath and. master bedroom.
- Cupples House Third Floor: The floor plans for the second floor, from the southeast corner going clockwise, show the southeast tower room, reception room, southwest tower room, federal glass gallery, storage, glass study room, main hall, three servant rooms, a bath and what is now the Turshin Glass gallery.