Did you know that St. Louis has a virus named after it?

In this episode of Show Me History, we uncover the forgotten public health crisis that struck St. Louis during the sweltering summer of 1933: an outbreak of what would come to be known as St. Louis Encephalitis Virus (SLEV). With over 1,100 reported cases and at least 200 deaths, the city found itself at the center of a medical mystery - one eventually linked to the tiniest and deadliest of culprits: mosquitoes.

Learn how local doctors and scientists, including a pioneering female pathologist, cracked the case and helped give the virus its name. We’ll also explore what this illness looks like today, who’s still at risk, and why it continues to resurface across the U.S.

It’s a chilling chapter in medical history — and yet another reason to keep swatting at mosquitoes.

All research, editing, and production by River City Productions for Show-Me History.

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Thank you for listening — and as always, we’ll see you in the Lou.

Long before rail yards and highways, there was a sandbar in the Mississippi that became a stage for honor, bloodshed, and survival.

Bloody Island.

In this episode of Show Me History, we uncover the dark and fascinating history of this lawless strip of land between St. Louis and Illinois. From high-society duels and political showdowns to early engineering feats (including a young Robert E. Lee’s involvement!), discover how Bloody Island became infamous — and why it ultimately disappeared from the map.

You'll meet notorious figures like Thomas Hart Benton, Charles Lucas, and Benjamin Gratz Brown, and witness how politics, pride, and pistols shaped the early days of Missouri.

All research, editing, and production by River City Productions for Show-Me History.

Reach us at: podcast@showmehistorystl.com
Website | Bluesky: showmehistory.bsky.app
Facebook: facebook.com/showmehistorystl
X: x.com/ShowMe_History

Please take a moment to leave a comment or rating on your favorite podcast platform. Every interaction helps!

Dueling, deception, and the death of a river island — it all happened here.

What if St. Louis had its very own Disneyland? In this episode of Show Me History, we uncover the incredible, nearly-forgotten story of Walt Disney’s Riverfront Square — a bold and imaginative plan to build a Disney theme park in the heart of downtown St. Louis.

From the rediscovery of lost blueprints in 2015 to the city's ambitious redevelopment dreams of the 1950s and 60s, we explore the political, cultural, and financial drama that brought Disney to Missouri — and ultimately led him to walk away. Learn how a clash over beer, control, and creative vision turned a promising partnership into a missed opportunity.

You’ll hear about the attractions that never were, the park that could have been, and how these unrealized dreams influenced the creation of Walt Disney World. It’s a whirlwind tour through urban planning, corporate ambition, and hometown pride — with a dash of Missouri mystery.

Website: showmehistorystl.com
Twitter: @ShowMe_History
Facebook: ShowMeHistoryStL

BlueSky: @ShowMeHistory.bsky.app

All research, editing, and production done by River City Productions for Show-Me History.

Please take a moment to drop us a comment and rate us on whatever platform you're listening on. Every interaction helps! Thank you for listening!

Tune in and discover the Disney park St. Louis almost had — and why it never came to be.