St Louis History Talks

Cost: Free
Lee Auditorium
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 history professor Rodney Wilson as he traces the twists and turns of this globe-spanning detective story. Blending art history, local lore, and archival sleuthing, this fascinating program reveals how two forgotten treasures from 1904 found their way home—and what their journey tells us about the afterlives of the World’s Fair artifacts. This program will uncover the remarkable story of two 120-pound bronze jardinieres first displayed in the German Court of Honor inside the Palace of Varied Industries at the 1904 World’s Fair. Who was the talented metal sculptor behind these monumental planters? What became of them after the fairgrounds closed? How did they travel from a grand world’s stage to an overgrown corner of a farmhouse lawn nearly 80 miles south of Forest Park—and how were they rediscovered in the mid-1970s?" from https://mohistory.org/events/worlds-fair-mystery

Cost: Free
Location: Old Courthouse Rotunda
No reservations required
Free Sunday street parking

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.

Jefferson National Parks Association features Peter Kastor as the August speaker:

"When you think of the American Revolutionary War, the city of St. Louis probably doesn’t come to mind. Yet our small village was the site of the westernmost battle fought in the war, one that helped shape the destiny of our young nation. The 1780 Battle of Ft. San Carlos crushed Britain’s plans to take over St. Louis, thus spoiling its attempt to take control of the Mississippi River during the war.

Peter Kastor will explore this fascinating chapter from our city’s past. As a history professor at Washington University, he focuses on the half-century following American independence. He is also a scholar on the American Presidency." from https://www.jnpa.com/751/speakers.htm

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.

"The last MCHS Speaker Series of the season will be held on Sunday, August 9, at 2 p.m. at the Main Street Community Center in Edwardsville. The topic is “The Search for Fort Russell.” For nine years, presenter Don Cook has been focused on finding the location of the fort which disappeared from the landscape nearly 200 years ago.
Fort Russell Township, north of Edwardsville, was named for Fort Russell and is where the fort was located. Sometimes referred to as “Camp Russell,” it was a crucial munitions depot and military post used during the War of 1812. That made it significant to the story of the Illinois Territory and the future State of Illinois. Because the fort was dismantled so soon after the war, its exact location was forgotten.
For nearly a century, people have been searching for it, drawing various conclusions. But now, with modern technology and the discovery of additional maps, Don Cook and his partners, Jeff Pauk and Steve Kromraj, think they are on to something. In his presentation, Cook will talk about the other searches for Fort Russell as well as his own work and conclusions. It’s a fascinating story.
MCHS Speaker Series programs are free and open to the public."

Cost: Free
Lee Auditorium
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.

"St. Louisans know their city is out of this world—but what about its history of sending people to the stars? During the mid-20th-century space race, St. Louis played a vital role in missions that carried astronauts into orbit. Join Associate Public Historian Darby Ratliff to explore this fascinating story and the many St. Louisans who helped make space travel possible." fromhttps://mohistory.org/events/st-louis-to-the-stars