Missouri History Museum seeks to tell the full story of the 1904 World’s Fair

Living in St. Louis means having some knowledge of the city’s remarkable claims to fame. Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis’ signature accent, the infamous, vertically sliced St. Louis bagel, and residents’ refusal to call St. Louis Bread Co. by their new name are just a few ways St. Louisans distinguish themselves from residents of other cities.

The city is also rich with unique history, including the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, more commonly known as the 1904 World’s Fair. Ask anyone from St. Louis about the fair, and they’ll tell you about the first Olympic Games in the United States, popularization of the ice cream cone and the classic musical film “Meet Me in St. Louis,” which culminates in an outing to the fair.

The fair’s “human zoo,” segregation, and celebration of American imperialism, however, are not mentioned as often — and are often forgotten entirely as key experiences of the event.

The Missouri Historical Society is looking to change that.