Aug 21, 2023

In the St. Louis region, the name Soulard is instantly recognized as a neighborhood where, among other things, Mardi Gras is held. Names of neighborhoods usually come from somewhere, though In this case, the neighborhood is named after a person who was a great surveyor and map maker, who helped organize the city, and...

Jul 29, 2022

Discrimination can take many forms. When J.D. and Ethel Shelley simply tried to purchase a house, they found themselves involved in a landmark legal case to fight for their right to move into their property. They were battling a restrictive covenant that tried to exclude them based on their race. ———

Click on...

Jun 9, 2022

Bevo Mill is a well known landmark today, and it is thought of as being whimsical and fun.  Its origin story was, however, rooted in its being a propaganda tool to counter early 20th century calls for Prohibition.  Namely, to convince the public that the brewing industry has always been a harmonious contributor...

May 3, 2022

The first Modernist Style Church in St. Louis was St. Mark's. Instead of the vivid images of cherubs, saints, and sunbursts usually found in religious stained glass, these windows would carry abstract visions of the current era’s deepest challenges, including war, poverty and union issues. Just press play to hear the...

Mar 23, 2022

Modernism rose to prominence as a style of architecture in the early decades of the 20th century.  One of the first buildings built in this style in the St. Louis region was tailor made for an orthodontist after the architect observed his workflow.  The result was a building that compelled Frank Lloyd Wright to stop...