Unseen STL History May 2025
Digging Deep: Coal, Clay, and Immigrant Miners
From brick-lined streets to smokestacks and railroads, the physical foundations of St. Louis were shaped in many ways by what came out of the ground. This month’s Unseen STL History Talk will explore the region’s history of coal and clay mining — and the immigrant labor that powered much of it. (It will expand on my article on coal mining with more information about mining in STL proper.) Whether you’ve heard whispers about lost mines in south St. Louis or wondered how Illinois coal kept St. Louis running, this talk will dig into the stories buried just beneath our feet.
Join us on Thursday, May 22, at Leviathan Bookstore (3211 S. Grand Blvd.) (rescheduled from May 15). Doors open at 6 p.m., giving you time to browse the shelves and chat with fellow local history lovers. The talk begins at 7 p.m., with a $5 cover to support the venue.
The Talk
This month, Unseen STL’s own Jackie Dana will take you from the early shallow coal diggings of 19th-century St. Louis to the expansive fire clay pits that once dotted neighborhoods like Cheltenham/Dogtown, Bevo, and Tower Grove South. We’ll also cross the river into Illinois to explore what it was really like to work underground in Macoupin County’s coal mines — the danger, the daily routines, and the toll it took on the people who made their living below ground.
We’ll investigate the role of immigrant labor and the essential contributions of workers from Ireland, Croatia, Italy, and beyond—people whose sweat and skill helped fuel St. Louis's growth. From bricks and kiln fires to coal seams and underground mules, we’ll explore how mining shaped the physical and economic foundations of our city.
Whether you’ve heard about the old mine under your neighborhood or just want to learn more about the industries that built the homes, fueled the railroads, and powered the industries of old St. Louis, this talk will uncover a chapter of history that deserves far more attention.
The Speaker
A native St. Louisan, Jackie Dana is a historian, freelance writer, and fiction author with a deep curiosity about the hidden stories that shape her city. She holds an MA in history from the University of Missouri–Columbia. Since returning home in 2019, she founded Unseen St. Louis to explore the city’s overlooked and forgotten past. Her work has delved into topics ranging from St. Louis’s Irish roots to the eccentric life of 19th-century mayor Bryan Mullanphy. She also has a special affection for the city’s iconic red bricks, the neighborhoods built from them, and the working-class communities who brought them to life.
Through her monthly Unseen STL History talks at Leviathan Bookstore, Jackie invites others to ask the questions that history books don’t always answer — and to uncover the surprising stories waiting just below the surface.
Join us on May 15th!
We hope you'll join us for this fascinating exploration of the coal and clay mining industries that shaped St. Louis. Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply curious about the history of local neighborhoods, we look forward to seeing you on May 15.
Unseen St. Louis is dedicated to uncovering the overlooked and forgotten aspects of St. Louis history. Through monthly talks at Leviathan Bookstore and regular articles, I delve into the hidden narratives that have shaped our city. If you value this work and want to support future research and events, please consider subscribing.
When will this event be? We showed up to Leviathan last night and it was all dark. Next Thursday?
May 15 is Thursday, not Wednesday.