One third of the Midwestern trio (Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis) that lead the great migration from the deep southern states through its lakes and rivers, continues to flood our souls with culture, history and personality.
Borrowing from the 1944 classic musical, “Meet Me in St. Louis,” which tells the story of four sisters on the cusp of the 1904 St Louis World Fair, is the perfect metaphor of this city’s pioneering and progressive innovation.
St. Louis and its surrounding areas was the first stop as our ancestors journeyed North on their trek to freedom.
Lulled by the longest river in the US, the ever-flowing Mississippi River, St. Louis was closer to ‘home’ than the cities of Chicago and Detroit. It was love at first sight for those who decided to plant roots in the ‘Show Me’ state.
St. Louis shows us what it’s made of, how it gets down and what to expect through all that it offers. Meet me at one of the cities bustling black-owned hot spots or tag along as I explore the city’s great outdoors with the National Parks Service.
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DO + SEE
If you’re adventurous, the National Parks Service has a few treasures to check out in the St. Louis area. Over 90 miles of springs, lakes, caves, hiking, tubing, canoeing, fishing and wild life activities are available, and The Lake of the Ozarks is a must-see! A great destination for the entire family to enjoy, the springs are crystal-clear during peak season, which starts May 25th and continues through November 1st. You can literally hike 20 miles north in the park and turn around and tube all the way down the falls, taking in all its beauty. It’s cheap and cheerful with no entry fee to Missouri’s 1st national park.
Photo Credit: National Park Service
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Round Spring Cave
The star of the story is Round Spring Cave. The hundred plus year old cave is not only home to some amazingly beautiful formations, but the cave most likely served as safety for enslaved Africans seeking their freedom (Missouri is a stop on the underground railroad). This silent beauty is a must-see!
You can enjoy the park as a day trip visiting one or two highlights or as an overnight stay given its size and the amount of activities available to visitors. It’s a 3-hour drive from the city of St. Louis. There are a variety of lodging options, from traditional campsites to luxury cabins at Echo Bluff where you can stay in a 3-bedroom cabin ranging from $129 to $220 per night.
Photo Credit: National Park Service
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Find Your Park Campaign
“The National Park Service understands that African Americans only represent about seven percent of park visitation. We are creating opportunities for people of color to get outdoors and explore the places of adventure, tranquility and rejuvenation with the Find Your Park campaign. The National Park Service tells a collection of stories in over 400 natural and cultural sites across the country, these sites include stories such as Harriet Tubman, the Tuskegee Airmen, Carter G. Woodson and Mary McCloud Bethune” says, African American Park Ranger, Nichole D. McHenry, Relevancy, Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager: Midwest Regional Office.
Photo Credit: National Park Service
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Old Courthouse Dred Scott
On the park grounds, directly across from the Gateway Arch is the Old Courthouse, listed as a stop on the infamous Underground Railroad. Here is where the Dred Scott case was heard in 1857 and then later tried in the Supreme Court. Inside of the courthouse lives an exhibition of the case and the life of Dred and Harriet Scott as well as a depiction of life for the enslaved Africans seeking their freedom and the newly freedmen living in the St. Louis area.
Photo Credit: National Park Service
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EXPERIENCE
To experience melanin magic, visit: The Griot Museum of Black History, 14th Street Artists Gallery, Sweet Art, St. Louis Walk of Fame, The Delmar Loop is an additional highlight, just in case.
EAT
The St. Louis food scene is like no other, options range from the best buffalo fish to down home Soul Food and the world renowned St. Louis style bbq, where there just a bit more sauce per rib than the average bbq. Try: St. Louis Q, Drake’s Place, and Sweetie Pie’s Upper Crust.
STAY
Black-owned Central West End Bed & Breakfast is in the heart of the bustling Central West End neighborhood, home to sidewalk cafes, Asian fusion restaurants, unique boutiques and antique shops. You’ll be just minutes away from Forest Park, where you can enjoy the St. Louis Museum and the world famous St. Louis Zoo.
