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3 weeks ago | 
unseenstlouis.substack.com | Jackie Dana
Few places in St. Louis have sparked more wonder, confusion, and creative chaos than the City Museum. But behind the swirling slides and sculpted dragons is a deeply personal story of a family, a vision, and a city that dared to imagine something different.
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4 weeks ago | 
unseenstlouis.substack.com | Jackie Dana
On May 22, for the Unseen STL History Talks series, I presented a talk on the history of coal and clay mining in St. Louis and Central Illinois. What follows is an expanded recap of the St. Louis part of that presentation — a deeper look at the people, industries, and places that shaped the region from beneath the surface. You can also listen to the full talk above and browse through the accompanying slides.
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1 month ago | 
unseenstlouis.substack.com | Jackie Dana
Welcome back to Unseen St. Louis and our two-part exploration of the early Illinois coal industry. In Part 1, we followed the rise of Illinois’s coal empire — from exposed riverbank seams to boomtowns like Benld and Gillespie, and what it was like to work in a coal mine in the late 19th and early 20th century. The story of coal mining in Illinois wasn’t just about digging coal — it was also about standing up for workers’ rights and better (and safer) working conditions.
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1 month ago | 
unseenstlouis.substack.com | Jackie Dana
From brick-lined streets to smokestacks and railroads, the physical foundations of St. Louis were shaped in many ways by what came out of the ground. This month’s Unseen STL History Talk will explore the region’s history of coal and clay mining — and the immigrant labor that powered much of it. Whether you’ve heard whispers about lost mines in south St. Louis or wondered how Illinois coal kept St. Louis running, this talk will dig into the stories buried just beneath our feet.
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1 month ago | 
unseenstlouis.substack.com | Jackie Dana
Welcome to Unseen St. Louis, where I dig into the overlooked corners of our city’s past. In honor of May Day, I crossed the Mississippi to uncover the coal mining boom in Illinois — the first installment of a two-part series on the industry that helped power St. Louis. Long before the electric age, St. Louis was powered by coal — much of it dug from the ground in central and southern Illinois.
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2 months ago | 
unseenstlouis.substack.com | Jackie Dana
Last Thursday, a crowd packed into Leviathan Bookstore for a conversation about one of St. Louis’s most quietly transformative mayors: Raymond Tucker. The evening featured Dr. Andrew Theising, author of Mid-Mod Mayor: How Raymond Tucker Shaped St. Louis, and Tim Tucker, grandson of the former mayor. The speakers painted a compelling portrait of a leader whose legacy still shapes the city today. As we learned in the talk, Raymond Tucker brought a pragmatic and principled approach to governance.
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2 months ago | 
unseenstlouis.substack.com | Jackie Dana
Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -1:14:06Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Our March Unseen STL History Talks took us out to the ballpark—and back in time—with a lively evening that celebrated baseball’s deep roots in St. Louis, both in literature and in Black history. We kicked off the night with James Crossley, co-owner of Leviathan Bookstore, who shared his journey through baseball’s literary and cultural legacy.
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2 months ago | 
unseenstlouis.substack.com | Jackie Dana
Welcome to Unseen STL Vibes, your monthly dose of sunshine from Unseen St. Louis. As the days grow longer and the city bursts into bloom, we're here to celebrate all the things that make St. Louis come alive. Each month, I gather stories to help people find things to love about our city, from inspiring neighborhood projects to delightful local tidbits. I hope you’ll enjoy this springtime stroll through the brighter side of STL. Here are some positive stories about St. Louis worth sharing.
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2 months ago | 
unseenstlouis.substack.com | Jackie Dana
We’re back with another edition of Unseen STL History Talks, and this month we’re spotlighting one of the most influential figures in the city’s history—Mayor Raymond Tucker. Join us on Thursday, April 17th, from 7 PM to 9 PM (doors open at 6 PM) at Leviathan Bookstore, located at 3211 S. Grand Blvd. between Wyoming and Humphrey.
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Mar 7, 2025 | 
unseenstlouis.substack.com | Jackie Dana
Spring is in the air, and that means two things in St. Louis—warmer days and the return of baseball season! As the Cardinals gear up for Opening Day on March 27, we’re stepping up to the plate a week early with a history talk dedicated to the city's deep baseball roots. St. Louis has been a baseball town for well over a century, and this month, we’ll explore the stories, legends, and impact of the game on our city’s past.