Unseen STL Vibes July 2024
Positive STL news, events and historical tidbits
Welcome to the second edition of Unseen STL Vibes, a new monthly feature of Unseen St. Louis that highlights the positive and unique aspects of our city. Each month, I will showcase uplifting stories, events, and hidden gems that make St. Louis special. From heartwarming community initiatives to exciting local discoveries, Unseen STL Vibes aims to spread joy and foster a deeper appreciation for our city.
Upbeat STL news
A handful of recent news stories worth knowing about.
St. Louis County Library's Clark Family Branch Opens in July
The Clark Family branch of the St. Louis County Library, located at 1640 South Lindbergh Boulevard, opens on July 9. This 74,000-square-foot facility features colorful and modern spaces, including a genealogy center with 100,000 books, a media digitization area, a podcast studio, and a 3D art lab. The second floor includes reading and meeting spaces, a place to record oral histories, and access to FamilySearch technology. The children's room offers a play village, while the teen space has computers, a gaming lounge, and creative labs. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has more details.
New Amusement Rides Coming to St. Louis Union Station
New amusement rides are set to open at St. Louis Union Station by Memorial Day weekend 2025. The new attractions include a Mini Spinning Coaster, a Pirate Ship, and the Wave Swinger. Additionally, the park will feature classic carnival games and new concession booths. Construction begins in January 2025. For more details, visit St. Louis Union Station.
Gateway South Project Secures $155 Million for First Phase
The Gateway South redevelopment project in St. Louis, aiming to create a construction innovation district near the Arch grounds, has secured $155 million in funding for initial renovations. This phase will focus on rehabilitating the Crunden-Martin buildings into an innovation hub. The project, estimated at $1.2 billion, includes various phases expected to unfold over the next decade. Additional funding sources include tax credits and industrial revenue bonds. For more details about this project, visit the original article at STLPR.
New Sculptures at Citygarden
Citygarden, a three-acre sculpture park in downtown St. Louis, has reopened with four new sculptures. Located along Market Street from Kiener Plaza to the St. Louis Municipal Court, the park was established in 2009 by the Gateway Foundation. The recent additions include "White Ghost" by Yoshitomo Nara, "Mechanical Planet" by Jan Kaláb, "All Power to All People" by Hank Willis Thomas, and "MOONRISE.east.may" by Ugo Rondinone. These join 25 existing sculptures, enhancing the park's appeal to art lovers, families, and tourists. Citygarden offers a unique urban respite with features like a serpentine bench, new plantings, and interactive elements. The Gateway Foundation continues to support the park's maintenance and security, ensuring its role as a key cultural and green space in St. Louis. Discover more about the reopening and new sculptures at STLPR, and visit the Citygarden website for even more details.
Sneak Peek at St. Louis Zoo's New WildCare Park
The St. Louis Zoo's WildCare Park, opening in Spanish Lake in spring 2027, spans 425 acres and focuses on breeding wild animals in a safari-style setting. Currently housing 17 animals, including a newborn Grevy’s zebra and critically endangered addax, the park will feature expansive habitats where animals can roam freely. Visitors will tour in safari vehicles, ensuring minimal stress for the animals. Expected to generate over $660 million in regional economic impact, the park will eventually host 250 animals across 30 species. Learn more at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
STL History and Related Events
Learn about upcoming history events as well as activities hosted by friends of Unseen STL below:
C.A.F.E. Art and Music Fair – July 7
The Caffeinated Art Fair Extravaganza (C.A.F.E.) will take place Sunday, July 7, from 10 am to 4 pm at Spine Bookstore and Cafe at 1982 Arsenal St. across from Benton Park. Celebrate Independence Day weekend with over 40 artists, artisans, and crafters. Enjoy live music from the band Casting Runes and participate in open mic moments throughout the day. The event will also feature tents and tables with creative items for sale, such as food, ice cream, drink specials, and snacks. For more details, visit the C.A.F.E. Facebook event page.
Target: St. Louis Vol. 1 documentary – July 11
Join us on July 11 from 5 to 8 pm at the Missouri History Museum for a special free screening of "Target: St. Louis Vol. 1." This documentary explores the covert Cold War chemical testing in the Pruitt-Igoe housing community and other predominantly Black neighborhoods in north St. Louis. The event includes a discussion with director Damien D. Smith and former Pruitt-Igoe resident Ben Phillips. This free event provides a profound look into the historical impact of these tests. For more details, visit Missouri History Museum.
Spine's Amateur Scrabble Tournament – July 16
Participate in Spine's Amateur Scrabble Tournament on July 16, from 6 to 9 pm. Whether you're a seasoned wordsmith or just looking for some fun, this event promises an evening of friendly competition and camaraderie. Located at Spine, 1982 Arsenal St., across from Benton Park, the tournament will be a great opportunity to showcase your Scrabble skills and meet fellow enthusiasts. For more information, visit the Facebook event.
Unseen STL History Talks – July 18
July’s Unseen STL History Talks will take place on July 18th at Spine Bookstore and Cafe, 1982 Arsenal St. Doors open at 6 pm, and the talk begins at 7 pm. This month’s installment, featuring speakers Amanda Clark and Dan Fuller, will explore the life of James Buchanan Eads, the Eads Bridge, and other fascinating, lesser-known stories about this engineering genius. Enjoy an evening of learning and community for just a $5 cover. (More details will be posted on Unseen St. Louis in a few days).
National Ice Cream Day – July 21
Celebrate National Ice Cream Day at the Missouri History Museum on July 21 from 10 am to 1 pm, commemorating the 120th anniversary of the 1904 World’s Fair, where the ice cream cone was born. The first 120 visitors receive a free scoop of a new flavor of Clementine’s ice cream, and the first 50 get an exclusive T-shirt. The event features an ice cream-themed craft area, story time for kids, and free experiences in the 1904 World’s Fair exhibit. Enjoy a sweet day with activities for all ages! Check out the details at the Missouri History Museum website.
The Great Big STL Structure Showdown – July 25
Discover the hidden details of St. Louis’s built environment at The Great Big STL Structure Showdown on July 25, from 5 pm to 8 pm at the Missouri History Museum. Public Historian Amanda Clark will host an evening of intriguing stories, where experts reveal secrets behind iconic landmarks like the Eads Bridge and the River des Peres. The audience will vote on the most fascinating structure. Part of the Thursday Nights at the Museum series, the event includes late museum hours, pop-up activities, a cash bar, and food. For more details, see the info at the Missouri History Museum website.
History Bus Tours
Our Unseen STL History Adventures Meetup group will be offering two history bus tours in conjunction with SeeSTL Tours, part of the Missour History Museum. Each tour is $35 and lasts 2 hours.
August 4: Made in STL will explore some of the products made in St. Louis along the riverfront.
September 29: Beyond the Grave considers some of the burial locations and practices of early St. Louis.
Join Unseen STL History Adventures to sign up and learn about other upcoming events!
History tidbits
Why do so many 1920s-era houses in St. Louis have sunrooms? This architectural choice may have roots in the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic or concerns over tuberculosis, as people believed that sunshine and fresh air could cure or prevent illness.
During the construction of the Eads Bridge, 12 workers died, and 30 workers were seriously injured as a result of decompression sickness. Although this wasn’t the first construction project involving decompression sickness, it was one of the most serious, and it was during the building of the bridge that the condition was first referred to as “the bends.”
St. Louis has a rich history as a coffee city. Ronnoco Coffee Co. was established in St. Louis after brothers J.P. and James O’Connor were inspired by a gas-powered coffee-roasting demonstration at the 1904 World’s Fair. By 1920, the city was producing over 750,000 bags of coffee annually.
If you have events, news, historical tidbits, or other things you think Unseen STL readers would appreciate, just drop me an email at jackie@jackiedana.com and be sure to include “Unseen STL Vibes” in the subject line.
And if you want to see more of Unseen STL Vibes. or have suggestions on how to improve it, please reach out at the email address above or leave a comment.
Extremely interesting as always. Thank you, Jackie!
Great read. Thank you for this.