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 us for an author talk with Alan Kretchmar exploring the remarkable revival of Forest Park. In the 1980s, the park faced serious decline—crumbling roads and stairways, unsafe bridges, failing infrastructure, rising crime, and lakes filling with sediment. At the same time, outside groups—including the Missouri Department of Transportation, the St. Louis Blues, and St. Louis Children’s Hospital—were seeking to claim portions of the park’s land. How did Forest Park transform from a struggling public space to the crown jewel of St. Louis in just 40 years? Drawing on his research and writing, Kretchmar will share the story of the people, decisions, and community efforts that helped restore and reimagine one of the city’s most treasured landscapes. Public Historian Amanda Clark will moderate the conversation, guiding a deeper exploration of Kretchmar’s work." from https://mohistory.org/events/forest-park

Cost: Free, donations always accepted at Bellefontaine Cemetery
Reservations REQUIRED!
Go here to reserve a free spot:
https://bellefontainecemetery.org/event/zoom-070126/

This is a ZOOM history talk (NOT a Cemetery walking tour).
Note: If you are also a member of the St Louis Historic Sites group, we do a walking tour of this event (we just went in March 2026 and will go again in 2033).

"The era in which we live may impact our idea of who is a Saint or a Sinner. Virginia Minor worked most of her life to make the world better for others. During the Civil War, she worked with the St. Louis Union Aid Society, a precursor to the American Red Cross. Later, she attempted to use the 14th Amendment to vote in the Presidential of 1872 and worked to secure women the right to vote. Despite Virginia’s lifetime of service, no clergy would officiate her 1894 funeral because her Suffragist belies and activities were considered disruptive of the “natural order” of the times.
Learn how others in their time may have been classified compared to how we view their lives today during a free Zoom presentation featuring some of the Saints and Sinners eternally resting within the 314 acres of Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum.
Watch from the comfort of your home or wherever you may be!
This free online presentation runs from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Reservations are required, so please sign up now for this free online presentation!" from https://bellefontainecemetery.org/event/zoom-070126/