St. Louis, MO

Clamorgan’s Alley
DESCRIPTION: When West Indian Jacques Clamorgan arrived in the 1780s, he was the first person of African descent to settle in St Louis; an explorer, fur trader, and merchant, he owned several properties in the cobble-stoned streets of Laclede’s Alley; today the alley is named in his honor; nearby, the bridge traverses the mighty Mississippi River was renamed to honor Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

DAYS & HOURS: daily

ADMISSION: Free

ADDRESS: Clamorgan’s Alley in Laclede’s Landing  MAP

Old Courthouse
DESCRIPTION:  One of America's most important historic sites because of the role it played in leading the country to Civil War; in 1847 it hosted the 1st Dred Scott trial whose outcome pitted slave state law and economics against free state law and economics; Dred Scott was born a slave and moved to St Louis in 1830, eventually Scott accompanied his owners to the free states of Illinois and Wisconsin; after returning to St Louis and the death of one of his owners; Scott and his wife successfully sued his owner’s widow for their freedom on the basis that traveling to a free state made them free; although later cases went against Scott, he is immortalized for his heroic stand in a slave state prior to the Civil War; Scott, who was freed by a new owner, died in St. Louis in 1858; the last slave auction in St. Louis occurred on the Courthouse steps in 1861-- ended in anti-slavery protest by 2,000 people; today this popular visitor attraction features restored courtrooms, exhibit rooms on St. Louis history, a beautifully decorated dome, and recreations of the Dred Scott trial throughout the year

DAYS & HOURS: Tours Mon-Fri 9a-4:30p

ADMISSION: Free ranger-led tours are given on a regular schedule

ADDRESS: 11 North Fourth Street  MAP

PHONE: 877-982-1410

WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/jeff

Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing
DESCRIPTION:  Historical marker on the Riverfront Trail noting the first Underground Railroad site in Missouri was dedicated here in 2001; fugitive slaves once used this site, named for Mary Meachum, an African American abolitionist in St. Louis, to escape to the free state of Illinois prior to the Civil War

DAYS & HOURS: daily

ADDRESS: East Grand Ave on Riverfront Trail  MAP

PHONE: 314-416-9930

Scott Joplin House
DESCRIPTION: The famous ragtime composer lived in this house from 1901 to 1903; while here he completed such famous works as “Lost Opera”, “The Entertainer” made famous in the movie “The Sting”, and “A Guest of Honor”; during his stay in St Louis, Joplin catapulted to international stature; this historic landmark since 1976 was restored in 1991 to preserve and interpret Joplin’s work; you can hear his compositions on the player-less piano

DAYS & HOURS: Nov-March 10a-4p Tue-Sat and Apr-Oct 10a-4p Mon-Sat

ADMISSION: $2.50 adults, $1.50 for kids 6-12yrs old

ADDRESS: 2658 Delmar Blvd  MAP

PHONE: 314-533-1003 and 314-340-5790

WEBSITE: http://www.mostateparks.com/scottjoplin.htm

Sumner High School
DESCRIPTION: Opened 1875 as 1st high school west of the Mississippi River, designed by architect William B. Ittner; only 76 of the first 411 students began at the high school level; the school’s namesake is for the late Senator Charles Sumner, who in 1861 was the 1st Senator to call for full emancipation; famous alumni include Arthur Ashe, Kenneth Billups, Tina Turner, Bobby McFerrin, Dick Gregory, Robert Guillaume and Julia Davis

ADDRESS: 4248 West Cottage Ave  MAP

PHONE: 314-531-4835

Homer G. Phillips Hospital
DESCRIPTION: On grounds the size of small college campus, this massive structure is still a treat for the eyes; nearly 3,000 bystanders witnessed its dedication in 1937 for the “care of indigent Negroes”; trained a large number of African American doctors and nurses throughout the nation; closed since 1979 in an attempt to integrate city owned hospitals; named for an AA attorney who led the battle for a public bond to fund the hospital’s construction; designed by Albert A Osberg; placed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982; restored today, it houses the elderly

ADDRESS: 2601 Whittier Street  MAP

Poro College Site
DESCRIPTION: Annie Turnbo Pope Malone, one of Missouri’s 1st self made millionaires established a health care school and beauty products business here in 1917; in its heyday the 3 story building (now demolished) with offices, a dorm, sewing shop, and first aid rooms provided 200 jobs for local residents

ADDRESS: St. Ferdinand Ave at Billups Ave, southwest corner  MAP

Gateway National Bank
DESCRIPTION: The first bank established by African-Americans in St. Louis; continues to serve the community today

ADDRESS: 3412 Union Boulevard North  MAP

PHONE: 314-389-3000

Florissant, MO

Bellefontaine Cemetery
DESCRIPTION: Gravesites of Rev. John Berry Meachum, founder of the First African Baptist Church and the "freedom school" on the Mississippi River, and the Reverend John Richard Anderson, a witness to the 1837 murder of the Reverend Elijah P. Lovejoy, an abolitionist newspaper publisher; maps and self-guided tours at the cemetery office

ADDRESS: 4947 West Florrisant Ave  MAP

PHONE: 314-384-0750

Calvary Cemetery
DESCRIPTION: Catholic cemetery established in 1857 and final resting spots of Dred Scott, the former slave whose suit for freedom at the Old Courthouse brought him national renown and was a crucial element in the beginning of the Civil War; and Madame Pelagie Rutgers, an African-American woman who grew to become one of the St. Louis' wealthiest landholders in the mid-18th century

ADDRESS: 5239 West Florissant Ave  MAP

PHONE: 314-381-1313

South of St. Louis

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
DESCRIPTION: From a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River one perches on the fourth largest cemetery in the US; it includes graves for over 1,000 members of the 56th Colored Infantry established in St. Louis in 1863

ADDRESS: 101 Memorial Drive  MAP

PHONE: 314-263-8691

Velda Village, MO

James 'Cool Papa' Bell Memorial
DESCRIPTION: Final resting place for to the baseball Hall of Famer who played in the Negro National Major League from 1922 to 1950; he was an outstanding infielder and base stealer; they say Cool Papa was so fast, he could hit the light switch and be in bed before the light went out; he was in fact, so fast that he was timed rounding the bases in an astonishing 11 seconds

ADDRESS: 2101 Lucas-Hunt Road in St. Peters Cemetery  MAP

Alton, IL

Elijah P. Lovejoy Gravesite
DESCRIPTION: The grave of the prominent abolitionist newspaper editor from St. Louis, is capped by a soaring monument in nearby Alton, Illinois; Lovejoy was killed by a pro-slavery mob while defending the printing press of his newspaper;

ADDRESS: 1205 East 5th Street in Alton Cemetery  MAP

PHONE: 618-462-1617‎

WEBSITE: http://www.state.il.us/hpa/lovejoy/monument.htm

Underground Railroad Sites
DESCRIPTION: Tour a variety of sites transported people escaping slavery to freedom before and during the Civil War, including the Smith House, which was the site of many slave auctions; the Old Stone Meeting House; the Rock House, built by the Reverend Artemus Bullard a minister and an abolitionist; and other historic stops; visit the Alton Museum of History and Art - Koenig House (East Fourth and Oak) where you can explore exhibits related to the Underground Railroad, including the Lovejoy print shop

ADDRESS: Riverfront Trail  MAP

PHONE: 314-416-9930