Yes, We've Always Been This Way

Look, live here long enough and you understand the essential paradox of life in St. Louis. Outsiders perceive this to be a normal Midwestern city — kinda quiet. But it ain't. Oftentimes you can't put your finger on the reason why it seems so strange, but you can feel it in your bones. Dennis Northcott, archivist with the Missouri History Museum, can give you documentary evidence of those instances when St. Louis and its denizens took the hard left to la-la land. Such as in 1849, when a committee of public-health officials shut down all the breweries. St. Louis without beer? What the hell were they thinking? To find out the answer to this question and others, attend the free program History on the Side: Interesting and Amusing Documents in the Missouri History Museum Archives today at noon at the Missouri History Museum (Lindell Boulevard and DeBaliviere Avenue; 314-746-4599 or www.mohistory.org). Northcott shares some of the archives' more unusual records while you enjoy a lunch you either purchased at Meriwether's or brought from home. A little talk, a little lunch and a little more insight into the peculiar character of St. Louis — that's a pretty good Tuesday.
Tue., June 9, 2009