Before Fairgrounds Park became a place for picnics and recreation, it was the site of one of the Union Army’s most vital Civil War installations: Benton Barracks.

In this episode of Show Me History, we uncover the rich and largely forgotten story of the 150-acre military complex built just outside of 1860s St. Louis. Learn how it became a training ground for thousands of soldiers, a hospital for the wounded, and a place of transformation for newly freed African American troops following the Emancipation Proclamation.

From its strategic construction and sanitation innovations to its commanding officers and post-war legacy, Benton Barracks played a key role in the Western campaign—and in the evolving story of Civil War America.

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

📬 Reach us at: podcast@showmehistorystl.com
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▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@ShowMeHistorySTL
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Thank you for listening, and until next time… we’ll see you in the Lou.

Before the Blues and the football Cardinals, there was the St. Louis Hawks — a powerhouse NBA franchise that brought the city its only professional basketball championship in 1958.

In this episode of Show Me History, we take you courtside for the rise and fall of the Hawks, tracing their journey from Buffalo to the Tri-Cities, Milwaukee, and finally St. Louis. You’ll hear about legendary players like Bob Pettit, nail-biting playoff rivalries with the Celtics, and how the Hawks helped pave the way for St. Louis to become a multi-sport city — only to be pushed out by the very teams they made possible.

Packed with drama, civic pride, and court-side controversy, this is the story of the last pro basketball team to call St. Louis home — and the complex reasons they left for Atlanta in 1968.

🏀 Rivalries. Racism. Relocation. The story of the Hawks is one St. Louis shouldn’t forget.

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

📬 Reach us at: podcast@showmehistorystl.com
🌐 showmehistorystl.com
▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@ShowMeHistorySTL
🟦 Bluesky: showmehistory.bsky.app
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/showmehistorystl
🐦 X: x.com/ShowMe_History

💬 Please take a moment to comment and rate the show on your favorite platform. Every interaction helps us grow!

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

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.

📬 Reach us at: podcast@showmehistorystl.com
🌐 showmehistorystl.com
🟦 Bluesky: showmehistory.bsky.app
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/showmehistorystl
🐦 X: x.com/ShowMe_History

💬 Please take a moment to comment and rate the show on your favorite platform. Every interaction helps us grow!

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