Show-Me History Podcast

Discover the story of Allenton , a once-small railroad town southwest of St. Louis that slowly became isolated, declared blighted, and ultimately wiped away through eminent domain. From Route 66 to failed mega-malls and decades of stalled development, learn how this ghost town disappeared—and what remains today. Listen now! All research, editing, and production by River CityProductions for Show-Me...

Meet General Daniel Bissell , the frontier commander who rebuilt Fort Bellefontaine, fought in the War of 1812, and helped secure St. Louis during America’s westward expansion. From child soldier to respected civic leader, discover the life and legacy of one of early St. Louis’ most influential military figures. Listen now!

Travel back to the 1800s and discover Sulphur Springs Resort , a forgotten mineral spa once nestled along the clear waters of the River Des Peres near today’s Manchester and Hampton. From elite summer retreat to abandoned ruin buried under rail yards and factories, this episode uncovers how one of St. Louis’ earliest resorts rose, thrived, and disappeared. Listen now! All research, editing, and pr...

Take a deep dive into the wild history of St. Louis’ River Des Peres; from a clear Ice Age stream to a polluted open sewer, to today’s concrete-lined drainage channel and greenway. In this episode, we explore floods, public health crises, massive engineering projects, and modern efforts to clean and restore this complicated urban river. Listen now! All research, editing, and production by River Ci...

Discover the powerful story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital , the groundbreaking Black teaching hospital that transformed The Ville neighborhood in St. Louis. From its fight for creation, to its rise as a world-class medical center, to its controversial closure and eventual rebirth, this episode explores one of the most important institutions in African American medical history. Listen now! All rese...

Before Fairgrounds Park became a place for picnics and recreation, it was the site of one of the Union Army’s most vital Civil War installations: Benton Barracks . In this episode of Show Me History , we uncover the rich and largely forgotten story of the 150-acre military complex built just outside of 1860s St. Louis. Learn how it became a training ground for thousands of soldiers, a hospital for...

Before the Blues and the football Cardinals, there was the St. Louis Hawks — a powerhouse NBA franchise that brought the city its only professional basketball championship in 1958. In this episode of Show Me History , we take you courtside for the rise and fall of the Hawks, tracing their journey from Buffalo to the Tri-Cities, Milwaukee, and finally St. Louis. You’ll hear about legendary players...

Did you know that St. Louis has a virus named after it? In this episode of Show Me History , we uncover the forgotten public health crisis that struck St. Louis during the sweltering summer of 1933: an outbreak of what would come to be known as St. Louis Encephalitis Virus (SLEV) . With over 1,100 reported cases and at least 200 deaths, the city found itself at the center of a medical mystery - on...

Long before rail yards and highways, there was a sandbar in the Mississippi that became a stage for honor, bloodshed, and survival. Bloody Island . In this episode of Show Me History , we uncover the dark and fascinating history of this lawless strip of land between St. Louis and Illinois. From high-society duels and political showdowns to early engineering feats (including a young Robert E. Lee’s...

What if St. Louis had its very own Disneyland? In this episode of Show Me History , we uncover the incredible, nearly-forgotten story of Walt Disney’s Riverfront Square — a bold and imaginative plan to build a Disney theme park in the heart of downtown St. Louis. From the rediscovery of lost blueprints in 2015 to the city's ambitious redevelopment dreams of the 1950s and 60s, we explore the po...

A day that was meant to be a celebration of technological advancement turned into a day of devastation. The Gasconade Bridge Disaster killed upwards of 30 people, injured hundreds and became a dark day in St. Louis history. ----- All research, editing, and production done by River City Productions for Show-Me History. We can be reached at podcast@showmehistorystl.com, on Bluesky at ShowMeHistory.b...

St. Louis’s downtown area didn’t always look the way itdoes now. A nice slow incline towards the riverfront, no obvious hills, or large mounds. At one time, the entire city was speckled with large hills, the remnants of Native American tribes who once lived in the area. 27 mounds intotal were gradually removed from the landscape to make way for a growing city. This week's episode, entitled Big...

A private street in north St. Louis, Lewis place was an elite white-only street, now is it the only place in the United States where African Americans own 3 continuous blocks of land. This week's episode in on Lewis Place (the street, not the whole neighborhood). ------ All research, editing, and production done by River City Productions for Show-Me History. We can be reached at podcast@showme...

When we think of the American Revolutionary War, we tend to think of the eastern states— of New England. But portions of the continent beyond that played a vital role as well. The Battle of St. Louis was the western-most battle of the Revolutionary War and proved to be a pivotal battle. All research, editing, and production done by River City Productions for Show-Me History. We can be reached at p...

The streetcar strike of 1900 would later be known as St. Louis’s civil war. It was a battle between classes, union members versus nonunion members, the working class against the elite. The streets of St. Louis resembled something from the wild west- shootings in the street, random bombings, people being attacked for riding street cars, and to complete the scene a sheriff appointed posse attempting...

This week's episode is about Mill Creek Valley. Around the turn of the last century, the area between Union Station and Grand along Market Street was a bustling community. Mill Creek Valley was home to a large African American community. Victim to "urban renewal" and "slum clearance", Mill Creek Valley was razed and its residents displaced throughout the city. All research, editing, and production...

This week's episode is about the City Hospital on Lafayette Avenue. Consisting of 18 total buildings on 10 acres of land, the old City Hospital was once the center of the city’s wellbeing but became an eyesore. Through grants, local investments, and land clearing, the complex is now thriving again. All research, editing, and production done by River City Productions for Show-Me History. We can be...

Picture it, an affluent suburb in western St. Louis County. What appears to be a walking and bike path in the middle of a park transforms at night. An eerie old road haunted by ghosts of days gone by. Or so the legend goes… This week on Show-Me History we discuss the Zombie Road. All research, editing, and production done by River City Productions for Show-Me History. We can be reached at podcast@...

This week on Show-Me History, we're discussing "The Hill". The Hill is a charming and historic neighborhood in St. Louis, renowned for its rich Italian-American heritage and vibrant culinary scene. Known as the city's "Little Italy," The Hill boasts a variety of authentic Italian restaurants, bakeries, and specialty shops that draw visitors and locals alike. Its streets are lined with quaint, well...

Vexillophiles rejoice! In this episode of Show-Me History , we explore the evolution of St. Louis's municipal flag. Initially, the city struggled to adopt a flag, with early designs rejected due to their unpopularity. A revised flag was created and is now ranked among the top five city flags in the U.S., and in 2020, it won a global contest for best municipal flag. All research, editing, and produ...

Episode 15 of Show-Me History explores the rise and fall of the Social Evil Hospital and the controversial Social Evil Ordinance in St. Louis in the 1870s. Intended to regulate prostitution as part of a broader social hygiene movement, the ordinance legalized sex work. While the language in this episode is clean, the topic is a little on the heavy side. Parents, maybe skip this one with the little...

Episode 14 of Show-Me History traces the rise and fall—and eventual rebirth—of the Switzer Candy Company, a quintessential story of the American dream. It begins with two immigrant families, the Switzers and Murphys. The story celebrates resilience, family ties, and the enduring charm of candy. All research, editing, and production done by River City Productions for Show-Me History. We can be reac...

In this episode of Show Me History, we dive into the rich history of Lafayette Square Park in St. Louis. From its origins as a 30-acre public commons in 1767 to becoming the city’s first public park in 1851, Lafayette Square has transformed from a dangerous, untamed space to a picturesque Victorian-era park. We'll explore its evolution, from military training ground and community hotspot to the re...

What began as the old commons far from the city’s hub, Lafayette Square became a prominent residential area, only to fall into decline for decades and eventually be brought back to life. Come with us and learn about one of St. Louis's most cherished neighborhoods. All research, editing, and production done by River City Productions for Show-Me History. We can be reached at podcast@showmehistor...

Once the icon of St. Louis, and originally named the Illinois and St. Louis Bridge, Eads Bridge is a significant piece of engineering history. It was the first permanent bridge to span the Mississippi River and was developed and built by self-taught engineer, James Eads. All research, editing, and production done by River City Productions for Show-Me History. We can be reached at podcast@showmehis...