May Genealogy Events

Thanks to everyone who made our Family History Conference such a great success. If you missed the in-person event, you can still register to watch the recordings. The May monthly meeting should be of interest to those who have Native American heritage, early Missouri ancestors, or just enjoy learning about history. We have a new class coming up very soon, and registration is open for our annual research trip to Salt Lake City. Read on for more! 

More Information About the Veteran Bounty Land Project

Two years ago, the National Genealogical Society (NGS) began a project to raise money to conserve about 360,000 Bounty Land Warrant Application files and Case Files of Bounty Land Applications of Indians based on service between 1812 and 1855. All these files span the nineteenth century, from start to finish, and they are housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. They represent thousands of soldiers from America’s earliest conflicts who applied for military bounty land, whether their claims were accepted or rejected. But here’s the problem . . .

Autumn Traditions are in the Air

Although it's still very warm in parts of the United States, those of us in the Midwest are enjoying some cool, comfortable weather this week. In fact, the nights are feeling downright autumnal! Stores are filled with the bright colors of Halloween decorations, and those of us who need our yearly fix of pumpkin doughnuts, pumpkin muffins, and the ever-popular pumpkin spice lattes, are blissfully eating and drinking our way into the season. Did you know that pumpkins have a long, interesting history? If your ancestors were in this country or in South or Central America, they likely ate, cooked, and/or carved pumpkins throughout their lives. Read on for more!

Honoring Ancestors of Color in our Genealogy Research

While we cannot change or erase the stormy history of our country, this day honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a good time to reflect on what we can do to right some of the wrongs of the past and to learn more about members of minority groups that have been long overlooked. To that end, we want to share some stories and websites that might help you learn a bit more about our ancestors of color.

Got Vikings in Your Family History? A Surprising Number of People Do!

Long before the world had Spiderman and Wonder Woman, many people’s idea of superheroes looked like larger-than-life Viking warriors. These remarkable people seemed to have been everywhere in the ancient world, conquering and pillaging before settling down in a myriad of locations. They left their genes behind in children with light eyes and light hair, and they left place names, runic writing, extremely advanced artisanal skill sets, and long-buried treasure in a stunning number of places.

As the young folks in your life don their Halloween costumes this year, let’s look back at these precursors to our Marvel heroes to see who they were and how they affected all of modern history, including many of our own families.

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)