Missouri Historical Society Celebrates 160 Years

St. Louisans don’t always appreciate the amazing cultural heritage and institutions in our city. The Missouri Historical Society (MHS) is a case in point. A recent article by MHS President Jody Sowell explains:

It was on August 11, 1866 that MHS’s founders stood on the steps of the Old Courthouse and announced they were going to create an institution to “save from oblivion” the history of this place. Now, 160 years later, the Missouri Historical Society is one of the biggest and oldest historical societies in the country. Just a couple of years ago, celebrated historian Doris Kearns Goodwin was at the Missouri History Museum for a private event. After the event I gave her a brief tour. At one point she stopped, look around in awe, and asked, “Does every city have a museum like this?” The simple answer is “no.” Few cities have a regional museum the size and quality of the Missouri History Museum. Nor do they have a historical society that can boast the number of collections we protect and preserve, the number of institutions we operate (the Missouri History Museum, the Library & Research Center, and the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum)…

In addition to our general civic pride in St. Louis, BSI’s special connection to the Missouri Historical Society includes the fact that we served as Construction Manager for each of those three institutions. In 1991, we added 45,000 sf of archival storage along with a major historic renovation ($30 million in 2026 dollars) converting the old United Hebrew Temple into the Library & Research Center.

In 2000, BSI helped the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park more than double its size, with the $58 million Gyo Obata-designed Emerson Center, adding new galleries, new temporary exhibit spaces, new meeting spaces, a new auditorium, and a new shop and restaurant.

And in 2018, BSI completed the $35 million restoration/renovation to the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum and Court of Honor. In October 1936, President Franklin Roosevelt had dedicated the Memorial (which officially opened in 1938) with a speech noting that America doesn’t build monuments to war or conquest; instead “we build monuments to commemorate the spirit of sacrifice in war – reminders of our desire for peace.”

Each of these impressive facilities is worth a visit (or multiple visits).

For more information on the Missouri Historical Society’s 160th Birthday, see: 16 Defining Moments in MHS History

For information on MHS’s “I Am St. Louis” campaign, see: I Am St. Louis