Missouri History Museum

Stories shape how we see St. Louis and how we imagine its future.

In his latest Museum Column, Missouri Historical Society President and CEO Jody Sowell reflects on sharing stories for the STL History Minute series and on a recent trip abroad that reinforced a familiar realization: people around the world know far less about St. Louis than they should.

From the heroism of local World War II pilot John Kriegshauser to the global journey of the Missouri Leviathan and the enduring legacy of Josephine Baker, these stories reveal a place with a rich, complex, and fascinating history.

Our greatest challenge isn't a lack of stories but rather finding new ways to tell them.

Read the full column to explore why storytelling is such an important part of shaping St. Louis's future: https://bit.ly/4dVkAN8

This Thursday, June 4 we're bringing history to life — live and on stage!🎙️

Thursday Nights at the Museum return with a very special evening: a live recording of the Listen St. Louis podcast, hosted by acclaimed journalist Carol Daniel. The episode, "Our American Story: African Americans' Integral Role in Building St. Louis," explores the often-untold legacy of the enslaved and free Black men and women whose craftsmanship helped shape this city.

Joining Carol Daniel will be Cicely Hunter, MHS Public Historian, and Lyah B. LeFlore-Ituen, MHS Director of the African American History Initiative.

📅 Thursday, June 4
🍹 Happy hour starts at 5:00pm
🎙️ Live recording starts a 6:30pm
📍 Missouri History Museum

Find more event details here: https://bit.ly/4u4Npg5

Presented in partnership with Nine PBS

June at MHS is looking stacked 👀

From live podcasts and author talks to summer family fun, a new exhibition, tours, and Thursday night programs, there’s a lot happening across the Missouri History Museum, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum and Missouri Historical Society Library & Research Center this month.

Whether you’re looking to learn something new, explore St. Louis history, or just get out and do something fun, we’ve got you covered all month long 😎 🗓️

Check out what's coming up!

Hot summer days in St. Louis 🤝 spending your vacation at the museum

This 1958 flyer from our archives advertised free summer classes for kids and adults at the Jefferson Memorial Building in Forest Park. Young visitors could hear stories like "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" or explore “Pioneer Life in Missouri.”

Meanwhile, adults could stop by the Lindbergh Trophy Gallery for talks on early St. Louis, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and the Civil War in Missouri.

To learn more about what's happening THIS SUMMER, check out our events calendar with all the information you need to plan your summer staycation: https://bit.ly/4qMzfOX

With upcoming Thursday night programs, Summer Family Fun Series, See STL Tours, and more, there's something for everyone! ☀️📚

Honoring those who served and the families who stood beside them 🏛️

Built in the elegant Classical Strip style, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum stands as both an architectural gem and a lasting tribute to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Gracing its exterior are four striking sculptures created by Walker Hancock. Hancock's figures embody what he believed to be the fundamental qualities every person must cultivate: Vision, Courage, Loyalty, and Sacrifice. At each corner of the building, ceremonial urns honor the 13 official campaigns of World War I, ensuring those battles and the souls who fought them are never forgotten.

To learn more about the sculptures outside this downtown landmark, check out this History Spotlight: https://bit.ly/49rc7jc

“Denver could have but one Kindel in the bedding business.”

So Charles Kindel left town and changed St. Louis furniture history in the process.

After moving to St. Louis to avoid competing with his brother, Kindel introduced a bold new idea: a stylish settee that unfolded into a bed. The invention became a sensation, marketed as “the greatest household invention of the ages.”

Click the link to learn more about Charles' story, as well as how the police got involved with some of his overcrowded demonstrations: https://bit.ly/3RwKejH

Blues legend Henry Townsend got his start in Mill Creek 🎸

Nicknamed “Mule” for his grit and work ethic, Townsend recorded music across nine decades — from the 1920s to the 2000s — writing or co-writing at least 178 songs along the way.

In 1937, he teamed up with fellow St. Louis musicians, including Sonny Boy Williamson and Robert Nighthawk, for marathon recording sessions that helped define the “Bluebird beat,” a sound that would ripple from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago.

Townsend kept playing, recording, and inspiring new generations well into his 90s earning a National Heritage Fellowship and even a posthumous Grammy.

Learn more about Townsend, his career, and his time in Mill Creek: https://bit.ly/4faFryc 🔗 and be sure to visit "Mill Creek: Black Metropolis," presented by the James S. McDonnell Foundation with additional support provided by Bank of America.

Picnics packed? Chairs ready? Let’s close out this series in style 🧺🎶

Our Twilight Thursdays Concert series concludes with a tribute to Diana Ross, featuring Carmen Anderson with musical direction by Honeyvox.

🎤 Diana Ross rose to fame with The Supremes and became a solo legend with hits like "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough" and "Upside Down".

🚎 The trolley will be running into the evening
🅿️ Extra parking is available in the twin lots by the Visitor's Center
Find more details (including a list of this week's food vendors!) here: https://bit.ly/4mPcidE

📅 Thursday, May 28 I 6-8pm
📍 Missouri History Museum
🎟️ Free & open to the public