MoHistory

From once-in-a-lifetime events to everyday experiences, Forest Park has been chronicled in a hazy mythology that wraps the entire city of St. Louis. The park’s lore especially echoes throughout St. Louis’s history of entertainment and amusement, and few places are as legendary as Forest Park Highlands. Located on the park’s south border, Forest Park Highlands …

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In 1976, Jerry C. Elliott-High Eagle, a Cherokee/Osage physicist, NASA employee, and Medal of Freedom recipient, drafted legislation creating National Native American Awareness Week, the first federally recognized observance of Indigenous cultural heritage. This was followed in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush’s declaration of November as National Native American Heritage Month. For 35 …

Continue reading "National Native American Heritage Month and the Work of Repatriation"

Pharmacist and drug store owner Pelham Joseph Robinson Sr. established himself as one of the most influential Black businessmen in St. Louis. His chain of Owl Drug Stores, centered in the historic African American community of Mill Creek, was so widespread that Owl Drug was known as “the Black Walgreens.” Robinson was born in 1907 …

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What drives a person to reach out to strangers across an ocean? What acts of kindness can be considered a form of unconditional love? Is it when you give and expect nothing in return? Is it when you give to others, knowing you’ll never get to meet them in person—even if their country was the …

Continue reading "“The Time We Have in Which to Build a Better World”: The Legacy of Louis E. Alewel"

Soldiers Memorial’s newest exhibit, Two Minutes to Midnight and the Architecture of Armageddon, explores the height of the Cold War. Photographers Adam Reynolds and Jeanine Michna-Bales capture the uncertainty of the nuclear age, how it transformed American life, and the chilling relevance it has today. Photographic Messages Michna-Bales and Reynolds use two photographic essays to …

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This is the second in a two-part series. Read the first part here. William Russell, a Virginia native, arrived in St. Louis in February 1804. Russell failed as a farmer and merchant, but his third job as deputy surveyor for the new Louisiana Purchase Territory would make him a wealthy man as settlers sought to …

Continue reading "From Orchard to Park: Changing Land in Soulard"

Can you imagine Halloween without candy corn, Snickers bars, or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? To put it mildly, our modern American All-Hallows’ Eve celebrations have a sugary, candied core. But what would the holiday be like if there were no sugar? We can look back to World War II for an answer. During wartime, natural …

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With spooky season upon us and autumnal festivities under way, we’re exploring some kooky, creepy, and weird objects in the Missouri Historical Society Collections that are sure to spark your curiosity. Glass Lachrymatory Bottle What looks like an ornate perfume bottle is believed to be a lachrymatory bottle, or tear catcher. The practice of using …

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Since its founding in 1927 in St. Louis’s Mill Creek neighborhood, Vashon High School has stood tall as a powerful symbol of Black self-determination, intellectualism, and cultural pride. But for much of that time, the school and its community have been locked in a protracted struggle to keep Vashon’s doors open against systemic racism, institutional …

Continue reading "Sustaining Vashon: The Long Struggle to Preserve a Pillar of Black Education in St. Louis"

With so many books in the Missouri Historical Society Collections, it is easy for something to be cataloged and never thought about again until it resurfaces for an exhibit. One such item is the focus of this post: a book of flute instruction exercises. It is in poor condition, and its title page is missing, …

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The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, known as the Red Tails, were the first Black aviators in the US military. Among them was Captain Hugh J. White of St. Louis. Born on August 24, 1922, White was the son of Hugh P. and Virginia White. His five siblings included one brother, Frank; and four …

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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 "Exploring Family History: A New MHS Resource"

With 63 artifacts across 6,000 square feet, Collected has many stories rich in St. Louis history. One case near the gallery’s entrance focuses on St. Louis’s fight against pollution, efforts to safeguard health and the environment, and the development of grassroots movements. Nuclear Testing An object as simple as a baby tooth was instrumental in …

Continue reading "Beyond Baby Teeth: Environmental Activism in St. Louis"

In the first half of the 20th century, Mill Creek was more than a Black neighborhood—it was a world of its own. Tucked into the heart of St. Louis, it felt like a small city within a big city, alive with energy and vigor. Everything urban life could offer was there: shops and restaurants, hotels …

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Suspended high above the ticketing hall of Terminal 2 at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, a striking red aircraft catches the eye of travelers below. This is the Monocoupe 110 Special—an aviation gem with a storied past, lovingly preserved by the Missouri Historical Society. Built in March 1931 by the Mono Aircraft Corporation in Moline, …

Continue reading "The Glatz Monocoupe Soars Again at St. Louis Lambert International Airport"

Although much of the public attention to the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II has focused on the nation’s first 992 Black military pilots, more than 14,000 non-pilots share the title of Tuskegee Airmen. This group includes mechanics, nurses, drivers, armorers, cooks, riveters, meteorologists, clerks, machinists, parachute riggers, instructors, radio technicians, firefighters, and other support …

Continue reading "Tuskegee Airman Sgt. George H. Carper"

Through nostalgic nods, adorable motifs, and humorous moments, The Life of Kids’ Clothes invites visitors of all ages to explore the Missouri Historical Society’s collection of approximately 2,000 children’s garments from the 19th century to today. As an exhibit designer, I collaborated with Adam MacPhàrlain, former curator of clothing and textiles, to develop the exhibit’s …

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The exhibit Collected introduces visitors to the early work of American painter George Caleb Bingham. Although the artist is nationally renowned, the woman in the portrait on display is unfamiliar to most. Let’s meet Lavinia Sappington Marmaduke (1807–1885). Born in Tennessee, Lavinia attended a young ladies’ seminary in southern Kentucky before her family moved to …

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The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, known as the Red Tail Angels, were the first Black aviators in the US military. Among them was Captain Charles L. White from St. Louis. Born on June 5, 1921, White was the oldest child of Stanley, a dentist, and Eleanor White. He had two brothers, Stanley and …

Continue reading "Soldiers Memorial Military Museum Honors Tuskegee Airman from St. Louis"

The Museum Column Museums are in the headlines quite a bit lately. While that would usually make me happy, most of the recent headlines have focused on the Trump administration’s efforts to get into the museum business by reviewing the historic content found in national parks and at the Smithsonian. Museum organizations have responded, including …

Continue reading "What Visitors Want"