I had the pleasure of visiting St. Louis, MO last week for the American Christian Fiction Writers national conference in conjunction with a reader’s retreat called StoryFest. It was so much fun! However, I wish I would’ve had more time to visit museums and experience the history of this place that opened the West.
Since the hotel was at the heart of downtown, I did see a few things.
Even though I didn’t get a chance to visit any museums, I still took some time to collect some fun historical trivia.
Lewis and Clark began their famous westward explorations in 1804 and positioned St. Louis as the “Gateway to the West.”
Reverend John Berry Meachum, a 19th century preacher, cooper and carpenter, founded the Freedom School aboard a steamboat anchored in the middle of the Mississippi River at St. Louis, in answer to the 1847 state law which prohibited blacks from being educated on Missouri soil. The floating institution was then under federal jurisdiction and exempt from Missouri laws.
Elizabeth Keckley, one of the Freedom School teachers, later went on to fame as seamstress and confidant to Mary Todd Lincoln at the White House.
Susan Blow started the first kindergarten in the United States in St. Louis in 1873.
The Eads Bridge over the Mississippi River was the first arched steel truss bridge in the world. When it was first proposed, it was scoffed at as impossible to build. Completed in 1874, it is still in use today.
The Wainwright Building, located on Seventh Street in downtown St. Louis, was the world’s first skyscraper. It was designed by architect Louis Sullivan and completed in 1891.
Formally called the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the 1904 World’s Fair commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Lewis & Clark expedition. The Fair was further immortalized by the movie, “Meet Me in St. Louis,” which was based on the memoirs of writer Sally Benson.
In 1904, the first Olympiad in the U.S. was held in St. Louis at Washington University’s Francis Field, and gold, silver and bronze medals were first introduced. It was the first Olympiad with female participants, and runner George Coleman Poage was the first African-American athlete to participate in the Olympic games.
St. Louis is the hometown of Damaris Baxter from In Honor’s Defense. 
OK – this one’s historical fiction, not fact. Ha!
Which St. Louis historical trivia item did you found most interesting?
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For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen is a firm believer in the power of happy endings. . . and ice cream. She is an avid cross-stitcher, and makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.
Congratulations! You deserve it.
Thank you so much, Janice!
As a former teacher who has taught all grade levels, I found it interesting that the first kindergarten was started in St. Louis.
I was surprised by that, too.
I love bridges so knowing the history of the Eads bridge was interesting to me.
I just love it when naysayers are proven wrong. 🙂 And how wonderful that the bridge is still standing and in use today.
All interesting facts.
Thanks, Kim. I had fun picking out my favorites.
the Elizabeth Keckley fact
I need to research her more and find out how she ended up at the White House. Must be an interesting story.
Congratulations and good sales.
Thank you!
Well, you didn’t say a word!! CONGRATULATIONS on your Carol Award. Woo-hoo!!
Thanks, Pam! 🙂
I liked all of them! Congrats on the award!! I LOVED your Hanger’s Horsemen series!!
Thank you so much, Trudy!
Congratulations, Karen!
Thank you, Caryl. It’s a lovely honor. I’m just tickled pink. 🙂
Oh Wow A Huge Congratulations. Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful facts. I love learning about things like this. So glad you had a great time. I found them all interesting but this one stood out to me: Susan Blow started the first kindergarten in the United States in St. Louis in 1873 I have always loved helping in the lower grades of elementary school. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
Thank you for the congratulations, Lori. 🙂 I love learning fascinating historical tidbits, too.
Did you know The Arch was designed by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen?
Very cool, Minna! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Congralations! I don’t know the first Olymiads in the US were held in St. Louis
I didn’t realize that, either. Or that it coincided with the World’s Fair.
Congratulations! What a wonderful accomplishment.
I always think of the movie and song, Meet Me in St. Louis, and the Arch, of course.
denise
I’ve been singing that song for weeks! 🙂 I’m a big Judy Garland fan, so that song always makes me grin.
Congratulations on the Carol Award!
Eads Bridge was a very interesting fact. They didn’t have the benefit of modern machinery then, mostly all man power. What an accomplishment, and sturdy enough to still be in use, amazing!
Thanks, Connie. Human ingenuity always amazes me. We are so reliant on technology these days, that it’s remarkable to see what people accomplished before the computer existed.
I was most taken with the boat put out into the middle of the Mississippi River for teaching the blacks because education was forbidden on Missiouri “soil”. Gotcha!! Hooray for those who sought to further the education and well being of dis enfranchised persons.
Wasn’t that fabulous? That was one of my favorites, Judy. 🙂
Congrats on winning the award! Such wonderful news!
Thank you, Colleen!
Congratulations on winning the Carol award. Well deserved and quite an honor. My favorite trivia is the floating Freedom School. It’s wonderful he thought of a way around a ridiculous law.
Thank you so much! I do feel incredibly humbled and honored.
Congratulations ! I found this one very interesting : The Eads Bridge over the Mississippi River was the first arched steel truss bridge in the world. When it was first proposed, it was scoffed at as impossible to build. Completed in 1874, it is still in use today. Have a great day and stay safe.
Thanks, Alicia!
Susan Blow started the first kindergarden. Thank you so much for sharing. Congratulations!! God bless you.
I found that one interesting, too!
I find Reverend John Berry Meachum’s solution to the edict that no colored could be educated brilliant. Nothing like getting around a law right within site of the Capitol where the law was passed.
Exactly! What clever ingenuity for a righteous cause. 🙂
My wife and I were up in the arch some years back and there were 3 blimps in the air at once. It felt as if we were in the 1930s. What a sight! I am glad to you got to see some things. Congratulations on the award!