Blacks in Flight mural, St. Louis Lambert International Airport; (c) SoulOfAmerica

St. Louis

St. Louis is an American heritage jewel. LaCledes Landing by the Mississippi River, echoes the city’s past as a French trading post. Shortly after President Jefferson completed the Louisiana Purchase from France, Lewis, Clark and their slave guide, York, departed from here on their epic journey to chart the American west territory. Old Courthouse near the riverfront is where the infamous Dred Scott Court decision was made, triggering the Civil War. In a city of many black heritage moments, Downtown and Grand Avenue also soar with restored nightclub and dining districts today.

History
The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 cemented St. Louis reputation as America’s fur trade center. A year later, Lewis, Clark & York set out from St. Louis to chart the new territory and French Canadians brought African slaves to the city … More

Cultural Sites
Black World History Museum, Harris-Stowe State College, Katherine Dunham Museum & Cultural Center, St. Louis Black Repertory Company, Vaughn Cultural Center, George Washington Carver Garden, Portfolio Gallery … More

Shops and Galleries
Several bookstores provide an intellectual anchor for the community, while eclectic gift shops, clothing and accessory boutiques, plus a notable art gallery warmly embrace visitors … More

Restaurants
Bespeaking its Midwest location, this Foodie city enjoys a range of Soul Food and Barbecue restaurants. Its location astride the Mississippi River also made it a prime home for Jazz, Blues and now Hip-Hop nightclubs … More

Innkeepers
Nathan & Henrietta Phillips opened Central West End Bed & Breakfast in a charming three story estate, not far from St. Louis Grand Blvd entertainment district … More

General Attractions
At 630 feet tall by 630 feet wide, Gateway Arch is the nation’s tallest man-made monument; ride the Journey to the Top tram from its base to its highest point. From there, view the Mississippi River, LaCledes Landing … More

The Arts
St. Louis has strong collections of classic and modern art and many historical exhibits and artifacts in its Museum of Western expansion, Sheldon Art Galleries, Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum … More

Historic Sites
The city by the river has many historic sites from slavery, to Civil War to freedom, including some established by people of color … More

Places of Worship
Places of Worship in the Gateway City include edifies that served as Underground Railroad stations and helped newly freed people after slavery … More

St. Louis Gives Birth to R&B
With cross-ferticlation and evolution from Ragtime, Blues, Jazz and Bloogie-Woogie, the city arguably lays claim as the birthplace of R&B, though it was first recorded undercover in Memphis for crossover appeal to whites … More

Family Attractions
There’s no shortage of outstanding attractions when you can visit the Zoo, Science Center, Magic House, Six Flags, Grant’s Farm, a bowling museum, baseball park and football dome … More

The Ville
When elder Black folks talk of St. Louis, they remember the area bounded by Taylor Avenue, St. Louis Avenue, Sarah Street and what is today called Martin Luther King Drive. To them it will always be The Ville … More

Barbecue and Soul Food
The city has earned many accolades for its Black-owned Soul Food and Barbecue restaurants, many of whom have secret family recipes for everything from gravy-smothered ribs, steak, pork chops and chicken, to tender … More

Scott Joplin and Ragtime
St. Louis is the northern axis of America’s Musical Corridor, which runs along the Mississippi River linking St. Louis, Memphis, Natchez and New Orleans. This melodic corridor has given birth to most genres of American music … More

Katherine Dunham
Dancer, choreographer, teacher, activist, anthropologist, artist and author. Some hail her as a scholar and dance icon of stage and screen. … More

From Josephine Baker to Nelly
A couple of years after Joplin’s world-renown composition made its debut at the World’s Fair, a young girl by the name of Freda Josephine McDonald was born here. A professional dancer and singer … More

Trivia, Radio Stations and Famous Residents
The city is known for Miles Davis, Nelly, Cedric The Entertainer, Chuck Berry, Maya Angela, Dick Gregory, Josephine Baker and … More

Alton
Only a short ride away from St. Louis, Alton has a number of attractions that have have general and family appeal for day trips … More