On October 17th, our Unseen STL History talks spotlighted the lasting contributions of German immigrants to St. Louis. The evening featured two expert speakers, Dorris Keeven-Franke and Nathan Jackson, who discussed how German immigrants shaped St. Louis culture and architecture for over a century. We learned about the impact of 19th-century immigration patterns, the design of prominent buildings and neighborhoods, and the lasting mark Germans left on the city.
German immigrants
Dorris Keeven-Franke began by discussing Gottfried Duden, a key figure who inspired German immigration to Missouri in the 1820s. She explained how Duden’s book, A Report on a Journey, portrayed Missouri as a land of opportunity, encouraging many Germans to move here. Despite efforts by the German government to discredit his work, Duden's influence led to the formation of Emigration Societies, which helped bring waves of settlers to Missouri. From there, Keeven-Franke highlighted the lasting impact these early immigrants had on shaping the city through the years and multiple waves of additional immigration.
You can view her slides below:
The German influence on St. Louis Architecture
Nathan Jackson focused on how German immigrants influenced St. Louis architecture. He discussed several key 19th-century buildings, including the Turnverein and Union Beer Hall/Smile building, as well as the Naked Truth Statue. Jackson also covered residential architecture, highlighting homes designed by German architects like Ernst C. Janssen. His talk demonstrated how German immigrants significantly impacted the city’s architectural landscape.
You can view his slides below:
How to find more Unseen St. Louis history
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