Hands-On Experiences Enhance Genealogy

(This week's blog was written by StLGS member, Janet Foss, who shares some serendipitous travel experiences—and photos—in her quest to learn more about her ancestors. Hopefully, Janet's successes will inspire you to hit the road too, once the weather warms up. And from all of us at St. Louis Genealogical Society, a very happy/merry Chanukah/Christmas!)

 

Unexpected Finds

My husband and I travel quite a bit in an RV. We both love history. Whenever we are on the road, we seek out museums and historical sites. Lucky for me, our summer travels have provided several unexpected encounters that have enhanced my genealogy.

On a trip to Springfield, Illinois, I discovered that I was near Camp Butler National Cemetery. Just a week earlier, I had learned that my 2X great-grandfather reported for military service in January 1865 at Camp Butler. I hadn’t yet taken the time to determine where that might have been and here it was jumping off the page of a local travel brochure. In addition to being a troop processing center, the camp had a hospital, which necessitated the need for a cemetery. Although the camp is long gone, several photos and placards outside the cemetery office described the camp and subsequent national cemetery.

A month later, while spending time in Lexington, Kentucky, we visited Camp Nelson National Monument, a Civil War site and new addition to the National Park Service. While we were browsing through the museum, a volunteer pointed out a small re-created sutler’s store. Holding up one of the shoes in the display, the guide explained that there were three sizes––small, medium and large––and no right or left designation. (No arch supports or insoles either!) Suddenly I recalled my 3X great-grandfather, a boot and shoemaker in 1860s St. Louis. This was just what he would have been making.

Then while visiting Keokuk, Iowa, we toured the beautiful Victorian mansion of Samuel Morgan Freeman, a prominent citizen and attorney. Sitting on a side table In Freeman’s office was a Blickensdoerfer typewriter. George Canfield Blickensdoerfer, the inventor of this version of the typewriter, was a distant cousin of mine. Up to this point, I had only seen a picture of his invention. Here was the real thing, complete with the wooden carrying case.

Of course, we photographed these wonderful discoveries to add to my ever-growing collection of genealogy materials.

Perhaps what I am saying is that we can learn so much about our ancestors’ lives in many ways if we just remain open to them. We all spend countless hours searching databases on the Internet and scrolling through microfilms and other resources in the library. These are certainly invaluable tools in researching our family history, but making stops at museums, historical sites, and other places can provide a rewarding glimpse into our ancestors’ lives and help us piece together their stories.

Enjoy a History Staycation in St. Louis

 Missouri History Museum in Forest Park: Mighty Mississippi

There is nothing like a holiday weekend with out-of-town company to get you off the couch and finally visiting two wonderful St. Louis venues that are all about history. If you ever wondered how much of an influence the Mississippi River has had on St. Louis, head over to the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park to see the "Mighty Mississippi," a special exhibit that opened in late November and will remain in place until April 2021. Encompassing more than four hundred years of history, this slice of life in the Mississippi River watershed includes information on many of the religious and ethnic groups that lived and worked along the river and settled the city.

A sensory delight of panoramic displays, artifacts, and hands-on video and audio stations, the exhibit takes you through time, introduces you to many of the important people in the city's history, and keeps you engaged and fascinated as you learn more about how the river has supported life for generations. Learn more about the exhibit on the Missouri History Museum's website.

  

While you are at the History Museum, don't miss the extremely moving exhibit of Pulitzer Prize winning photographs. This exhibit will close in just a few weeks—on 20 January 2020—and is absolutely stunning in its raw depiction of the highs and tragic lows from 1942 until the present. You will undoubtedly remember seeing many of these photos when they first were published. They are intense in their revelations of war, crime, bigotry, and tragedy as well as breathtaking in their celebration of life, triumph, and love. For those of you with an interest in history, this one is a must-see, but be forewarned, some of the images will stay with you long after you leave the gallery!

 

The Museum at the Gateway Arch

Sure, it's always fun to ride up to the top of the Arch to see the panoramic view on a clear day, and it is really a must-do activity when friends or family visit from another city. However, within the past year, the museum under the Arch has undergone a massive renovation and is really worth a visit on its own merits. There is also a new café adjacent to the museum where you can get a snack or a meal.

The exhibits in the newly-expanded museum are bright, packed with information, and guaranteed to pique your interest.  Beginning with Native American settlement, the chronological history of the city and its environs is told in an inclusive and eye-opening manner. You will learn more about the early Native American and Creole inhabitants, the pioneers, the adventurers and fur traders, the immigrants, and the quest to keep moving west. An additional gallery reveals many details on the actual construction of the Arch in the 1960s. Learn more about the museum and check out what is in each of the galleries at the National Park Service's website.

Since the Gateway Arch is now under the auspices of the National Park Service, you do need to go through a security checkpoint before entering the museum. You may not have any weapons with you, and purses, backpacks, etc., will go through a conveyor belt while you walk through an airport-style security machine. There is a  small entrance fee to the site and an additional charge to ride up to the top. If you have a National Park Service pass, you will get a discount on the fees. Get help planning a visit on the Gateway Arch's website.

Why not plan to visit these two wonderful local museums while you have some time off this winter? You will gain so much insight into the history of our city when you do!

 (All photos by Ilene Murray)