Unseen STL Vibes October 2024
Positive STL news, events and historical tidbits
Welcome to Unseen STL Vibes, a monthly feature of Unseen St. Louis highlighting the positive and unique aspects of our city. Each month, I 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.
A quick personal note: thank you to everyone who expressed condolences on the passing of my father, Charles Dana. We will be hosting a Celebration of Life on Nov. 3rd at 2 pm at the Turkish Pavillion in Tower Grove Park. If you’d like to join us, please bring a folding chair if you have one and your favorite cookies to share.
Upbeat STL news
Here are some positive recent stories about St. Louis.
Next steps for the Railway Exchange Building
St. Louis city officials have taken legal action to seize ownership of the beleaguered Railway Exchange Building, aiming to kick-start redevelopment and end lawlessness at the long-vacant downtown landmark. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a lawsuit was filed after Florida-based Hudson Holdings, the building's owner, ignored an offer from the city to buy the property for $5.3 million. The city is pursuing eminent domain to take control of the 1.2 million-square-foot structure, which preservationists consider an architectural gem. Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis Inc., praised the bold move, stating, "Holding them accountable and using the full legal power that [the mayor] has to take that action, we applaud this... If they're unwilling to do it in a negotiated way, the mayor has the authority to resolve this in the courts." City officials hope the move will lead to a revitalized downtown and bring new tax revenue to the city.
St. Louis is a leader in job growth
New federal data shows St. Louis experienced rapid job growth, adding over 36,000 jobs between August 2023 and August 2024, a 2.6% increase, according to First Alert 4. This places the region among the top five large metropolitan areas in the US. Mayor Tishaura Jones celebrated the news during a luncheon, calling it another win for St. Louis alongside efforts to secure abandoned properties and promote affordable housing. “We’re investing in our downtown partnerships to make this a safer and more vibrant community,” Jones said. Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc., attributed much of the growth to increased construction and major hiring by companies like Boeing.
Just follow the Brickline Greenway
The Brickline Greenway project has entered its next phase, with construction underway on the third leg along Market Street from South 22nd Street to South Compton Avenue. First Alert 4 describes how this .85-mile stretch will connect Harris-Stowe State University to the completed segment near City SC’s CityPark. Part of a $245 million effort, the project aims to link Forest Park to the Arch, and Tower Grove Park to Fairground Park, ultimately creating 10 miles of pedestrian, cyclist, and wheelchair-friendly trails through 14 St. Louis neighborhoods. Completion is expected by 2030.
Lawmakers tackle fallout from WWII nuclear production in St. Louis
Missouri lawmakers are launching a special committee to examine the ongoing consequences of nuclear weapons production in the St. Louis area, according to a report in the Missouri Independent. The region has faced radioactive contamination since the Manhattan Project during World War II, when uranium was refined in downtown St. Louis for the first atomic bomb. Following the war, waste was haphazardly dumped, leading to long-lasting pollution in Coldwater Creek, the Weldon Spring quarry, and the West Lake Landfill. The committee will address the legacy of nuclear production, focusing on the health and environmental impacts on local communities. The first meeting will be held on October 15, with the goal of developing legislative solutions to mitigate these historical harms.
STL History and Related Events
Check out upcoming events in the St. Louis area.
Unseen STL History Talks - Oktoberfest!
Join October’s Unseen STL History Talks for our Oktoberfest with Dorris Keeven-Franke and Nathan Jackson, two speakers who will spotlight Germans' incredible contributions in shaping St. Louis. From their political activism to their cultural impact, Germans left an indelible mark on the city’s history and identity.
October 17th, 7 - 9 p.m. (doors 6 p.m.)
Spine Bookstore and Cafe, 1982 Arsenal
$5 cover
Learn more
History After Dark: Spirits from Beyond
Unearth the past with the Young Friends of the Missouri Historical Society at History After Dark: Spirits from Beyond. Enjoy spirited cocktails while you go behind the scenes at the Library & Research Center, explore fascinating artifacts from the Missouri Historical Society Collections, learn about the iconography of grave markers with Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum, and design your own headstone! Tickets are $15 per person and feature a custom cocktail.
Saturday, October 12, 2024, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Missouri Historical Society Library and Reading Room
$15
Learn more and register
NBAC Silent Cinema: One Spooky Night
Join other fans of the National Building Arts Center for a night of silent film shorts and a silent auction in this special fundraiser for the NBAC, and get a peek at all of the architectural treasures that while also silent, tell many stories of the past.
October 25th, 6:00 pm - 10:00pm
National Building Arts Center, 2300 Falling Springs Road Sauget, IL
$20
Learn more and register
The Great Big STL Architecture Tour
Are you a fan of flounder houses? A maniac for mansard roofs? An ardent arch admirer? Or maybe you just want to learn more about the buildings around you. If so, this super-size See STL tour is the place to discover St. Louis architecture across history—and maybe even take a glimpse at what the future holds.
Saturday, November 9, 2024 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Missouri History Museum
$45
Learn more and purchase tickets
History tidbits and resources
Craving more STL history? Look no further!
Walking tours
Now that the hot summer is behind us, why not check out a local history walking tour?
Landmarks Association of St. Louis offers Saturday walking tours for $15.
SeeSTL Tours, part of the Missouri History Museum, offers a wide range of walking (and bus) tours of St. Louis. Most walking tours are $20.
Nathan Jackson of St. Louis History and Architecture offers extended neighborhood walking tours beginning at $18.
Death and Circuses
In keeping with the spooky season, let’s talk about death and gravesites! Did you know that Frank James (of the James Gang) lived for a time in St. Louis and was buried in a grave under a fake name? Check out my 2022 article “Death and Circuses” to learn more about how Jesse and Frank James lived and died and how their funerals were about as different as the two men had been when alive.
And if this is your kind of thing, check out the Missouri History Museum’s Beyond the Grave bus tours coming up later this month!
If you have events, news, historical tidbits, or other things you think Unseen STL readers would appreciate, drop me an email at jackie@jackiedana.com and include “Unseen STL Vibes” in the subject line.
And as always, thanks for reading and supporting Unseen St. Louis. I am committed to providing informative articles and history programming to the community, and keeping all of the content on Unseen St. Louis free. However, this does take quite a bit of effort, so if you would like to support my work financially, please consider a paid subscription.
Absolutely love the news about the Railway Exchange Building
wow, if Google Maps is to be believed, Coldwater Creek ran right behind our house in Overland! We used to explore its length when it was still wild before they trenched it into a concrete ditch.