Dec 11, 2023

There was a time when, if a steamboat sank or exploded, as they often did on the Mississippi, nothing could be done to recover the wreckage. But in 1842, an industrious man named James Eads found a way to change all of that and to build his fortune in the process by inventing a diving bell. Just press play to hear the...

Nov 27, 2023

In the later part of the nineteenth century, shipping was very much a nightmare. Samuel Cupples and his business partner Robert Brookings were tired of moving their goods to far away rail yards before they could even be put on trains. In 1894, they came up with the revolutionary idea of building warehouses right above...

Nov 20, 2023

This episode of Here's History explores an idea that never quite caught on, namely prefabricated houses made entirely out of steel. The idea seemed enticing, creating maintenance free homes that cost much less than a standard home, which could be built quickly. But, The Lustron Corporation of Columbus, Ohio went broke...

Nov 1, 2022

The St. Louis Zoo is a large place indeed, and there is much ground to cover in a visit to see the animals and sights. Starting in 1963, a new alternative to walking was given to the patrons of the zoo, a miniature rail line. Just press play to hear the whole story. ------ 

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Jul 29, 2022

Flooding has historically been frequent in the St. Louis region, including the 1844 and 1993 floods, which are probably the most famous. In 1903 another major flood took its toll on the eastern side of the river. Just press play to hear the whole story.----- 

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