What we today call the Boathouse was originally constructed in 1908 as a comfort station and open air pavilion similar in style to the World's Fair Pavilion in Forest Park.

Situated just north of the main lake, and not far from the center of the Lafayette Park, the Boathouse presents a striking visual from virtually every point in the park. It has supported countless activities and events throughout its one hundred plus years of existence. Unique features include removable multi pane window frames that fit within its ten arches, to enclose the structure for overwintering palms and other tender plants, a fireplace, eight porthole windows and elegantly curved parapet walls.

The Boathouse was originally roofed with decorative and long-lasting Spanish tile, but it was replaced with cheap asphalt composition shingles several decades ago, probably due to some rotting of the rafter ends. The asphalt replacement shingles are now falling apart so badly that deterioration of the underlying wooden deck is occurring, with water dripping in many places during every rainstorm.

Lafayette Park serves not only the vibrant center of the Lafayette Square community, but as a unique part of the history of St. Louis. The 2003 master plan for the park's restoration highlights the Boathouse as its most important structure, for both historical and practical reasons. After restoration it will be used as a venue that will be large enough to host wedding receptions and similar-sized events.

Originally part of the St. Louis Common grazing ground, Lafayette Park was transformed into a Victorian strolling park in the 1860s by renowned landscape architect Maximilian Kern, who later went on to an even larger project, laying out and reshaping Forest Park. Lafayette Park retains many of the picturesque features developed by Kern, including an ornate iron fence completely surrounding the park, imposing statuary, two lakes, period buildings and pavilions, and decorative floral displays.

Although the City of St. Louis owns Lafayette Park and is responsible for its upkeep, significant restoration funds are simply not available in the city's budget. The mission of the Lafayette Park Conservancy, founded in 2001 on the park's 150th anniversary, is to raise money via grants and private donations to restore and improve park features. Restoring the Boathouse roof is the Conservancy's highest priority project.