Unseen STL History Talks: April 2024
A community discussion featuring Meg Lousteau and Michael Allen
Our next Unseen STL History Talks offer a special glimpse into the challenges of historic preservation in the City of St. Louis. Read on to learn about our upcoming event as well as some of the other events we have planned for this spring!
Unseen STL History Talks
Join us on April 18th for an enlightening evening dedicated to discussing historic preservation in St. Louis. The event will feature two key voices in the field: Meg Lousteau, Director of the Cultural Resources Office of the City of St. Louis, and Michael Allen, Executive Director of the National Building Arts Center and member of the city’s Preservation Board.
The talks will take place at Spine Bookstore and Cafe, located at 1982 Arsenal St. Doors open at 6 pm, with the talks starting at 7 pm. There will be a $5 cover.
The Talks
In this special edition of the Unseen STL History Talks, we will explore the pressing issue of historic preservation in the City of St. Louis.
Our city is home to an array of historic structures, ranging from houses and office buildings to warehouses, churches, and shops, many of which date back over a century. These buildings not only represent the architectural brilliance of notable architects but also feature unique elements such as decorative terracotta, stained glass, iron storefronts, and intricate masonry. Each structure tells a story from our city's past.
The evening will spotlight the experiences and perspectives of Michael Allen and Meg Lousteau, who stand at the forefront of efforts to safeguard our architectural heritage. They are often faced with challenging decisions about how to preserve these historic buildings or when to allow their demolition.
Attendees will learn about the intricacies of these preservation decisions, the current status of some of St. Louis's endangered buildings, the stories behind the loss of certain historic structures, and how the community can play a role in protecting our shared history.
Most of all, we welcome a lively discussion from our audience members, encouraging everyone to bring their questions. Our goal is to broaden everyone’s understanding of these critical preservation issues.
The Speakers
Meg Lousteau: As Director of the Cultural Resources Office of the City of St. Louis, Meg Lousteau brings nearly three decades of experience to the office. In Houston, she worked for the National Trust for Historic Preservation as well as Row House CDC, an affordable housing non-profit in the historic Third Ward. The bulk of her professional life, however, has been in New Orleans, where her family has lived for five generations. After serving in the city as assistant director of the Preservation Resource Center’s Operation Comeback program, she became head of the Louisiana Landmarks Society. Her last ten years in the city were spent as executive director of the Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents, and Associates, an 85-year-old non-profit advocacy group that preserves and protects the French Quarter as a neighborhood. Lousteau's extensive background in advocacy, land use policy, and community engagement is backed by her education in Architectural Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans. Fascinated by her new city and its architecture, neighborhoods, parks, and cultural offerings, Meg spends her free time exploring St. Louis’s nooks and crannies, gardening, and working on her 100+ year-old house.
Michael Allen: As the National Building Arts Center’s Executive Director, Michael's interests include historic preservation practices, American and European modernism, and the political economy of the built environment. He serves on St. Louis’s Preservation Board, and since 2009, he’s been the Director of the Preservation Research Office, a consultancy that has worked across ten US states on projects of all scales. He’s a Lecturer in American Culture Studies at Washington University and a Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. In 2018, the National Trust for Historic Preservation recognized his work. He holds a B.A. in Literature and History from The Union Institute and is a Ph.D. candidate in Cultural Heritage at the Ironbridge Institute for Cultural Heritage at the University of Birmingham, England.
New Facebook group
For those interested in history conversations and preservation topics, I’ve created a new FB group called STL History & Preservation. I’m hoping it will be a space where people share interesting articles and images (with context) about St. Louis history, let others know about endangered buildings, inform us about the always unwelcome (but far too common) building fires and other issues, share success stories, and so forth.
Join us! https://www.facebook.com/groups/stlhistorypreservation
Upcoming Unseen STL History Adventures
Here are the dates of some of the upcoming activities with our meetup group, Unseen STL History Adventures:
May 1: Tour and history of St. Louis City Hall (first public tour in at least a decade!)
May 11: Tour of the National Building Arts Center
May 19th: Train ride and talk at the Wabash, Pacific and Frisco Railroad
June 6: Trolley tour at Bellefontaine Cemetery + visit to Velvet Freeze
Other upcoming events (TBA):
One or more bus tour(s) with the Missouri History Museum’s SeeSTL Tours; a driving tour of Bob Cassilly’s public artwork; a guided tour of the Missouri Historical Society’s Library and Research Center; a special docent-led tour of the new 1904 World’s Fair exhibit at the history museum; a guided visit to the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing; a stroll/bike ride across the Chain of Rocks Bridge, and more!
To join in on the fun, be sure to join our meetup!