MoHistory

On Juneteenth, June 19, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum will open a new traveling exhibit, Tuskegee Airmen: America’s Freedom Flyers. Marking the 160th anniversary of the end of slavery in the United States, Juneteenth is a fitting opening day for a display that honors the contributions of Black members of the US armed forces. While the …

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June is recognized in St. Louis and around the world as Pride Month. This observance commemorates the Stonewall Uprising of June 1969—a riot following a police raid on a gay bar in New York City that is remembered as a key catalyst of the movement for LGBTQIA+ rights. Pride has been a crucial component of …

Continue reading "Pride in St. Louis Year by Year"

The Society of American Magicians had been around for more than 60 years when it held its 35th annual convention in downtown St. Louis. Founded in New York City in 1902, the organization initially focused on professional magicians—Harry Houdini was one of its presidents. By the time St. Louis hosted the society in May 1963, the …

Continue reading "A Gathering of Magicians at the Jefferson Hotel"

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story originally ran in Gateway (Spring 2020), the MHS member magazine. It has been edited for length. The views and opinions expressed by the submitters are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missouri Historical Society, its affiliates, or its employees. Like no other natural disaster …

Continue reading "After the Storm: The Black Community’s Response to the 1927 Tornado"

The May 16, 2025, tornado has left St. Louis in shock, its destruction overwhelming and hard to fully grasp. Yet, this is not the first time the city has faced such devastation. Throughout its 261-year history, St. Louis has endured powerful storms, mourned their impact, and come together to rebuild—again and again. According to the …

Continue reading "St. Louis Tornadoes: A History of Resilience"

For the past eight months, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum has hosted Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II. The final day to visit this traveling exhibit and learn its fascinating story is Memorial Day, May 26. As the first American military unit solely dedicated to deception of the enemy, the Ghost Army—formally …

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If you have ever found yourself looking at an object in a museum and wondering where it came from, then you are thinking like a curator. Before the Missouri Historical Society adds a piece to its collection, curators first consider the object’s history, including its origin, creators, owners, and significance. Here are four collections with …

Continue reading "Where Did That Come From? Interesting Ways Things Came to MHS"

On May 7, 2025, a towering legend of St. Louis blues music will have the honor of being inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis, Tennessee. It’s hard to overstate just how important Henry Townsend is to St. Louis’s musical heritage. Local musicians from across a wide spectrum of styles and backgrounds counted …

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The Met Gala embraces brilliance of style each year as celebrities make cultural statements with fashion. This year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” has a deep connection to St. Louis’s rich history and incredible local talent. Master tailor Raymond Dennis dressed many St. Louisans with ingenuity and craftsmanship as the operator of Belle & Beau …

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  “Learn the lessons here taught and gather from it inspiration for still greater accomplishments.”  These were the words David R. Francis used to open the 1904 World’s Fair on this day 121 years ago. In 1904, these words were meant to welcome the nearly 20 million visitors who would eventually see the Fair during …

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Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II is a special exhibit open at Soldiers Memorial Military Museum until May 26, 2025. Ghost Army explores the unique history of the US Army’s 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, a top-secret unit that waged war with inflatable tanks and vehicles, fake radio traffic, sound effects, and …

Continue reading "The Ghosts of St. Louis"

In 1924, St. Louis piano player Harry Snodgrass won first place in a national contest of radio performers conducted by New York’s Radio Digest. Not long after, the young pianist signed with an agent and started a national tour with a vaudeville group. While St. Louis has produced many acclaimed musicians, Snodgrass’s path to success …

Continue reading "From Prison to Popularity: The Unbelievable Story of Piano Man Harry Snodgrass"

Do you ever wonder what it takes for a painting to be ready for exhibit at the Missouri History Museum? Well, it’s a multi-step process managed by the conservation department that sometimes takes years. For our new core gallery titled Collected, we have 11 paintings initially on display. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at their journey …

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When Linda Nance and Dr. Arthelda Busch Williams first met, they had no idea how deeply their work and passions would intertwine. Their introduction came through a project at the Missouri History Museum in partnership with the Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center, which also brought in the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs …

Continue reading "The NACWC: A Legacy of Impact"

Today I would like to introduce to you the story of a local celebrity who you can meet in our brand-new Collected exhibit. This icon has had her photo projected onto the Empire State Building, shared moments with Betty White, and even been featured on Vans shoes. Any guesses? That’s right, I’m talking about a Mexican …

Continue reading "Mother of the Year: Anna the Wolf"

Today’s St. Louis dog and cat owners register their pets; registration is tied to proof of rabies vaccination. In early St. Louis, dogs were taxed as personal property—$2 apiece. The 1824 dog tax ordinance was accompanied by a long list of regulations for dog owners. Although it was called a tax, the accompanying regulations indicate …

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Just days after the world shut down because of a global pandemic, the Missouri Historical Society released this video: The message was clear: St. Louis has always found ways to stay strong in tough times. St. Louis’s history—from fires and floods, to cholera and flu epidemics, to the time we literally blacked out the sun …

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Just got done filling out your personal property tax forms this year? Today’s process likely has you thinking about motor vehicles, boats, and business equipment. Some now-obsolete Missouri personal property taxes may surprise you. Watches were among the earliest items subject to personal property tax in Missouri. Gottfried Duden, a German who lived in Missouri …

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EDITOR’S NOTE: In order to bring a plurality of voices to our storytelling, the Missouri Historical Society frequently asks guest writers to contribute to History Happens Here. The views and opinions expressed by guest contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missouri Historical Society, its affiliates, or …

Continue reading "From Small Beginnings to Global Reach: 160 Years of UHSP"

History loves to recall those who defy the status quo, who stand up against injustice, and who refuse to be silenced. Frankie Muse Freeman was one of them—a woman whose name should be spoken with respect, not just during Black History Month or Women’s History Month, but in year-round conversations about justice, perseverance, and change. My name is Okunsola M. Amadou, and I’m a midwife, cultural preservationist, and Museum Studies …

Continue reading "Walking in Frankie Freeman’s Footsteps: A Trailblazer’s Reflection"