St Louis History Talks

Cost: Free, Reservations recommended
These meetups will be a little different - there may or may not be a meetup host at these events, so this is more a way to let people in this group know these history talks are taking place. You may or may not see anyone else from the meetup group there if you choose to go.

Saturday Speaker Series:
"Life was deeply complex for Italian immigrants to St. Louis in the late 19th century and early 20th centuries. From adapting old world traditions to new world life, to facing ethnic prejudice from outside their community and within, Public Historian Amanda Clark will examine why Italians came to St. Louis, where they settled, how they built networks of work and support, and how these experiences reshaped the cultural landscape of St. Louis." from https://mohistory.org/events/saturday-speaker-04-25-2026

Cost: Free
These meetups will be a little different - there may or may not be a meetup host at these events, so this is more a way to let people in this group know these history talks are taking place. You may or may not see anyone else from the meetup group there if you choose to go.

"Join us as Gwen Moore, Curator of Urban Landscape and Community Identity, leads an exploration of the powerful and often untold story of African American firefighters in St. Louis and traces the challenges, triumphs, and legacy of the Black men and women who broke barriers in one of the city’s most demanding public service professions. Through historical images, archival insights, and community narratives, Moore highlights how these firefighters confronted discrimination, forged resilient communities, and helped shape the landscape of public safety in St. Louis." from https://mohistory.org/events/fire

Cost: Free
Free Parking
Walk-ins are accepted, but registration is encouraged (walk-ins may be standing room only).
Register here: https://landmarks-stl.org/event/disinvestment-and-the-built-environment-legal-strategies-to-reverse-vacancy-in-st-louis-by-peter-hoffman-spring-2026-lecture-series/

These meetups will be a little different - there may or may not be a meetup host at these events, so this is more a way to let people in this group know these history talks are taking place. You may or may not see anyone else from the meetup group there if you choose to go.

"Synopsis: St. Louis’s built environment bears the imprint of decades of disinvestment. Vacancy is not randomly distributed; it is concentrated in neighborhoods that have experienced sustained economic and population loss. The consequences are visible in deteriorating historic structures, destabilized blocks, and diminished neighborhood confidence. Yet vacancy is not only a physical condition—it is a legal and structural one.
This lecture will examine the legal framework that governs vacant and nuisance property in Missouri and explore why traditional public enforcement tools—while essential—often fall short of achieving timely stabilization and rehabilitation. It will provide an overview of the statutory mechanisms available to address chronic abandonment, including receivership, and explain how place-based nonprofit organizations can use these tools to intervene where public systems lack capacity." from https://landmarks-stl.org/event/disinvestment-and-the-built-environment-legal-strategies-to-reverse-vacancy-in-st-louis-by-peter-hoffman-spring-2026-lecture-series/