The Saint Louis Art Museumwas founded in 1879 as part of Washington University under the name Saint Louis School and Museum of Fine Arts. During the 1904 Saint Louis World's Fair, the Palace of Fine Arts was built. This was designed by Cass Gilbert and later became the permanent home of the museum. In 1909 the museum separated from the university and was renamed the City Art Museum, adopting its present name in 1972.