What we’re about
If you're interested in the history of St. Louis, come explore the many historic homes, buildings, and museums in the area.
NOTE: our events typically fill quickly! But stuff happens and people drop out - so make sure and get on the waitlist if you are interested in going to an event. While not 100% guaranteed, most on the waitlist eventually make it in to the event!
Whether it's a historic home, church, a walking tour, or an occasional museum, we'll see the sites of the St. Louis area. This group will primarily be a "weekend only" group, typically meeting up on Saturday mornings/early afternoons with lunch either before or after the event. We schedule 3-4 events every month.
This meetup group has dues of $5 per year. The dues do not need to be paid for your first 6 months of membership.
Want to know more about our group? There's a lot more info below.
Answers to questions you may have:
So what will we see?
While I'm open to ideas a member has, it's probably already on my list! I have a list of 240 historical things to do around St. Louis. In any given year, we see: 12-13 historic homes, go on 10 walking tours, see 7 historic churches, go to 7 museums, visit 3 historic buildings, go on 2 history bus tours, and go to 1 "other" event that doesn't quite fit in any of the above categories. ALL events will be docent-led (with the exception of some museum events), so we have an expert telling us about the historical site! We have 6 years worth of events, doing something every weekend; therefore, events will be repeated every 6 years. We'll repeat all events; you just may have to wait a few years if you miss one!
In addition, we schedule 4 weekend trips each year to cities within a 4.5-hour drive to see their history.
What is the geographic area covered by this group?
We have a 25 mile radius with Clayton as our center. This includes Grafton, Elsah, and Godfrey, IL to the north; Edwardsville, O’Fallon, and Belleville IL to the east; Waterloo, IL and Imperial, MO to the south; and Pacific, Defiance, and O’Fallon, MO to the west.
Weekend trips we, of course, go further! Each year we see one city within 2 hours from St Louis, one that is 2-4 hours away, and the third is 4-4.5 hours away. We go as far west as Topeka KS; as far north as Cedar Rapids, IA, Rockford and Chicago IL; as far east as Indianapolis IN and Louisville KY; and as far south as Memphis and Nashville TN. We go to at least one Missouri city each year and one Illinois city each year.
Is there any cost to be a member?
Yes. Meetup.com is a business, and they charge me annually to have this site. I’d like to cover my costs as well as the costs of the other three organizers. The cost to join our meetup is $5 PER YEAR. However, you have 6 FREE "trial" months after you first join.
Another cost is that many of the historic sites we visit have admission fees. I will post these when I schedule the meetup. Some of the not-for-profits don’t have admission fees but gladly accept donations. I will suggest a $5 donation for these places, but it isn’t mandatory.
What is the $5 annual fee used for?
I will use the $5 to:
1. Pay the annual fee for hosting a meetup.com group (approximately $385 per year)
2. Pay for nametags (approximately $150 a year)
3. The organizer for an event will receive approximately $10 for each event he/she organizes/hosts (approximately $450 a year).
We typically have about 175-200 paying members. Others in the meetup who have not paid are in their trial first 6 months. I put all money for meetup in a separate bank account. I typically receive about $900 a year.
OK, how do I pay?
Three ways to choose from:
1. You can send me a private email through meetup and I can send you my address. You can send the $5 by cash or check.
2. Since you have 6 months of a trial period, you can come to an activity in the 6 months and pay me at the first event you attend. (This has proven to be the most popular method).
3. You can pay online through meetup.
What about after the event? We’ll be having such a good time in such good company, we won’t want to break up the party!
That’s why most events will be followed (or preceded) by a lunch. I look for the top rated restaurant in the area of the historic site. This gives us a chance to get to know each other better AND try out new restaurants.
Has the organizer checked out the events beforehand?
We've been in existence since 2016 - so now, yes, I have been to quite a few, but there are still several places we haven't seen yet! For those we haven't seen - I’m going in knowing as much as you.
Are there any rules for membership?
As a social group, our objective is to have fun! But I do ask members to observe the following guidelines:
• Please be courteous with your RSVPs. If you RSVP "Yes" to an event, show up! I realize that occasionally last-minute happenings might make it impossible to change your RSVP, but this should be a rare exception, not the rule. And on the occasion where the event is limited, holding a space for yourself when others are on the waiting list, then not showing up, is just incredibly inconsiderate. If your plans change, update your RSVP right away. This is important!. For some events, we will have a waitlist, and those people will need to know as soon as possible if they make it in.
• If you are on the waitlist, please keep checking, especially in the 48 hours prior to the event. There can be a lot of movement on the waitlist in the last 48 hours as people realize they have double booked or other things have come up.
• If you do come to an event, please find the event host first! That will be the person handing out nametags!
• I welcome input about any aspect of the group's operation! This most definitely includes historic sites suggestions and restaurant suggestions. And, by all means, if anyone has a negative experience at any event, please bring it to my attention at once. Participating in our events is supposed to be fun as well as informative!
So, in summary, we're here to:
• See new sites!
• Have fun!
• Learn something new about the greater St. Louis area!
• Make new friends!
Hope to see you soon!
General boundaries of our historic sites. Approximately 75% of the events will take place within the I-270 boundary.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- StL Retail Rulers in Mt Sinai Cemetery FRIDAYNew Mt Sinai Cemetery, St. Louis, MO
NEW Event.
Will go again: 2031
Cost: $10 to be donated to Mt Sinai horticulture improvement program.
8430 Gravois RoadThe cemetery is working on becoming accredited as a Level 1 Arboretum.
In 2024, we had a general tour of Mt. Sinai and the iconography and horticulture. This year, we will have a "Retail Rulers" tour. As Don (the docent) said last year, "Bellefontaine may have the Beer Barons, but we have the Retail Rulers of St Louis". Prominent retail rulers buried at Mt. Sinai include members of the Baer, Stix, and May families, as well as several others.
"New Mt. Sinai Cemetery, founded in 1850, is the oldest existing Jewish cemetery in St. Louis and one of the oldest existing Jewish cemeteries west of the Mississippi River. Its historical significance and beautifully maintained grounds make it a popular place to visit." from https://www.newmtsinaicemetery.org/tour
- Gustav Koerner House tourGustave Koerner House, Belleville, IL
NEW event.
Will go again: 2028
Cost: $10
200 Abend Street, BellevilleWhile the entire house has not been restored yet, we will be able to see a couple rooms inside. Inside, we will hear about the life and career of Gus Koerner. A close friend of Abraham Lincoln's, Koerner was the 12th Lt. Governor of Illinois (among other things). Outside, another docent will discuss the exterior work and architecture of the home.
Dress for the weather - the house does not have AC yet!"The restoration of Belleville’s Gustave Koerner home, on Mascoutah Avenue at Abend Street, will stand as a testament to one of Belleville’s most illustrious citizens. Koerner joined Abraham Lincoln, Horace Greeley and others who, fired by the passions of the times, came together to create the Republican Party in 1856. Koerner became a close Lincoln confidant, helped write the 1860 Republican Party platform, and managed Lincoln’s drive to the presidential nomination at the party’s convention. Koerner was an ardent anti-slavery proponent and, as a German emigre, played a key role in allying western America’s German population with the Union cause." from https://gustavekoerner.org/contact-us/
"During the forty-seven years that Gustave Koerner lived in the Koerner House, it served not only as his family home, but also the site of social events related to his political career. There also is little doubt that he prepared much of his public and private writings at the residence. Although some of Koerner’s political affairs may have been conducted out of his legal offices in Belleville, none of these offices remain standing today. As such, the residence at 200 Abend Street remains the property most closely associated with this nationally significant politician and German-born intellectual." from https://gustavekoerner.org/koerners-house/
