Unseen STL Vibes September 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 brief personal update: in August, in the middle of moving into my new house in the city (in 100° temperatures), my father and best friend, Charles Dana, fell ill and spent a month in the hospital. During that time, my beloved dog Opal passed away. Not long after, my father also passed away due to complications from congestive heart failure and newly discovered lung cancer.
Because of all these things, I haven’t had much time to devote to Unseen St. Louis or the meetup group over the past couple of months. I appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience as I work through everything, and I hope things get back to normal soon-ish.
Also, my dad was a well-known local fine arts photographer and left behind a sizeable collection of prints that I would like to sell inexpensively to help cover costs (and ensure these images find a good home rather than languish in storage). There are hundreds of available images, and while I do not have an inventory, I will work with interested buyers. Please reach out to me at jackie@jackiedana.com.
Upbeat STL news
Now for some good news. Here are some positive stories about St. Louis.
Growth in local tourism thanks to local arts
The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RACSTL) is driving a powerful resurgence in the city’s arts and culture scene, which promises to bolster economic growth and elevate St. Louis as a top national destination. As noted in an article in the St. Louis Business Journal, RACSTL describes how, through initiatives like StLouisArts.org, the organization is attracting tourists and enriching the local community, with the arts sector already contributing $868 million to the regional economy in 2022. As tourism rebounds post-pandemic, St. Louis is on track to become one of the top five arts and culture destinations in the US. This progress signals a bright future for St. Louis, where the arts not only enhance the quality of life but also stimulate significant economic prosperity.
A Floating classroom
EPA officials from four U.S. regions recently gathered on the Mississippi River aboard the Living Lands and Waters' floating classroom in Alton, Ill., alongside Alton High School students. As reported by St. Louis Public Radio, students participated in lessons about water quality and the Mississippi's environmental challenges, including the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico caused by fertilizer runoff. The barge, a refurbished 1930s vessel, is designed to foster education and awareness about the river. EPA officials discussed how pollution impacts the entire river system and emphasized the importance of collaboration to protect the waterway. The barge will host more educational programs as it travels downriver.
Sump Coffee is moving roasting operations to Old North St. Louis
Sauce Magazine reports that Sump Coffee is moving its roasting operations to a 15,000-square-foot warehouse in Old North St. Louis, near Strodtman Park. The new space at 1401 Hebert St. will house coffee and cacao roasting, along with a mezzanine area designed for hosting weekly coffee programs. These programs, led by owner Scott Carey, aim to foster in-depth discussions about coffee in an omakase-style format, showcasing different brewing methods and beans. The new facility is expected to open in September.
The BBC in STL
The BBC’s Arts Hour on Tour is highlighting St. Louis this month, hosting a music and arts event at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Additionally, St. Louis Public Radio noted that the BBC’s flagship news program, Newshour, has been reporting from St. Louis for over a week, covering stories like efforts to legalize abortion in Missouri and a rodeo in Defiance. Newshour was broadcast from St. Louis Public Radio’s studios, with anchor James Menendez discussing the show's local coverage on St. Louis on the Air (listen to the interview here.)
The truth about crime in St. Louis
Pundits all over the world paint a misleading picture of St. Louis and allude to our terrible crime statistics. But this information is inaccurate on many levels. Watch this video to learn why.
STL History and Related Events
Check out upcoming events in the St. Louis area.
House History Workshop
Whether you live in a Victorian townhouse in Lafayette Square, a Central West End mansion, or a south-city bungalow, your home has a story to tell. Join Associate Archivist Dennis Northcott to learn how to research the history of your St. Louis home.
September 14, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Missouri Historical Society Library & Research Center, 225 S Skinker Blvd.
$10 ($5 for members)
Advanced registration is required
Unseen STL History Talks featuring Gary Tetley
Architect and photographer Gary Tetley will guide us through his personal journey documenting St. Louis’ vanishing buildings, including the Ambassador Building, Century Building, and more. He'll share exclusive photographs and stories from the city's architectural past, preserving its memory through his lens. Join us on September 19th for a compelling exploration of St. Louis’ lost architectural gems from the past 35 years.
September 19, 7 - 9 p.m. (doors 6 p.m.)
Spine Bookstore and Cafe, 1982 Arsenal
$5 cover
Design Agendas
“Design Agendas: Modern Architecture in St. Louis, 1930s–1970s” is an exhibition at the Kemper Art Museum that explores the complex relationship between modern architecture, urban renewal, and racial change in St. Louis from the 1930s to the 1970s. Featuring nearly 300 items, including architectural drawings, models, photographs, and films, the exhibit highlights key works from architects like Eero Saarinen and Minoru Yamasaki while examining projects such as the Pruitt-Igoe public housing and the Mill Creek Valley demolition.
Sept. 13, 2024 - Jan. 6, 2025
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays-Sundays (closed Tuesdays)
Kemper Art Museum, One Brookings Drive
(Visitor parking is available in the university’s east end garage)
For more information, call 314-935-4523 or visit kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu
Hamilton in the archives
Be in the room where it happens when Acquisition Librarian Kelly Brown showcases historical documents and books that have connections to several of the real people featured in "Hamilton"! Admission is free but registration is required.
September 28th, 9:30 - 11:30 am
Missouri Historical Society Library & Research Center, 225 S Skinker Blvd.
Free but advanced registration is required
Slavery in St. Louis and Freedom Suits
Two connected exhibits, "Slavery in St. Louis" and "The Freedom Suits," will explore the growth of slavery in St. Louis and the efforts of Black slaves to gain freedom through the court system. "Slavery in St. Louis," created by the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, examines the city's connection to slavery through historical artifacts and primary sources. "The Freedom Suits," presented by the Law Library Association of Saint Louis, features original court documents highlighting freedom suits filed by enslaved people. Both exhibits provide a deeper understanding of St. Louis’ complicated history with slavery.
"Slavery in St. Louis" exhibit runs Sept. 3 - Oct. 1
"The Freedom Suits" exhibit runs Sept. 3 - Dec. 3
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Law Library Association of Saint Louis, Civil Courts Building 13th floor, 10 N Tucker Blvd.
For more info: 314-622-4470 or gwechsler@llastl.org
History tidbits and resources
Craving more STL history? Look no further!
The House of Lou podcast
The House of Lou is a fantastic podcast hosted by Veronica Theodoro, St. Louis Magazine's Design editor-in-chief, exploring the city's architecture, design, gardens, and fashion.
You can check out the most recent podcast, which digs into interesting information about our city’s trees. More relevant to STL Vibes readers, however, are the previous two podcasts featuring beloved journalist Julius Hunter talking about historic preservation and growing up in the shadow of Vandeventer Place (the focus of our Unseen STL History talks just last month!), and Riley Price, executive director of Missouri Preservation, who discussed historic districts and historic tax credits. You can find links to listen to the podcast here.
STL French and Spanish History
This tidbit comes from a Facebook post by Backlog, a St. Louis-based consultancy that guides individuals and organizations in understanding, preserving, and celebrating their rich histories.
“St. Louis’s French history might be obvious by its name, and [locals] often think of a certain German brewer, but the Spanish influence on the Midwestern city is less obvious. Between the late 1600s when French settlers first “discovered” the region and the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the land that would become the state of Missouri traded hands between France and Spain several times. As such, when the United States took control of the region, they struggled to honor French and Spanish land grants. The 1856 plat map featured below depicts one such Spanish land grant.”
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 work, so if you would like to support my work financially, please consider a paid subscription.
Wow, you have endured a lot. Take things at whatever pace works for you.
Sincere condolences, Jackie. Take your time.