Thursday Nights at the Museum: How St. Louis Shaped American Civil Rights

Thursday Nights at the Museum is a weekly series where the museum exhibits are open late and you can enjoy pop-up activities, a cash bar, food and more.

• Date: Thursday, July 9

• Time: 5–8 p.m.

• Location: Missouri History Museum, Lee Auditorium and MacDermott Grand Hall

Countless major moments in American history can be traced to St. Louis. As the United States marks its 250th anniversary in 2026, explore how St. Louis shaped America in this four-part series from the Missouri Historical Society. From westward to civil rights, music history, and America’s urban landscape, St. Louis has been at the center of it all for the last 250 years.

Part 3: How St. Louis Shaped American Civil rights

In a 1964 article in the St. Louis American, Judge Nathan B. Young argued that St. Louis—more than any other city in the U.S.—was pre-eminent in the country’s struggle for civil rights, based on the number of Supreme Court cases that originated here and the city’s long history of protest that led to significant change. Join Curator of Urban Landscape and Community Identity Gwen Moore for this look back the key Supreme Court cases that started in St. Louis and dramatically impacted American civil rights.

Join us for additional programs in this series:

• January 22 | How St. Louis Shaped Early America

• March 19 | How St. Louis Shaped American Cities

• August 27 | How St. Louis Shaped the Soundtrack of America