Unseen STL History: The Earliest Surviving Buildings of St. Louis
Step back in time with Unseen STL History as we uncover some of the city’s oldest surviving buildings and the secrets they hold. This month’s history talk features architecture enthusiast and historian Nathan Jackson, who will guide us through the overlooked remnants of early St. Louis. Whether you're a preservation nerd, a casual history fan, or just curious about the city's past, this is one you won’t want to miss.
Join us at Leviathan Bookstore on the third Thursday of every month for an evening of local lore and unexpected history. Doors swing open at 6:30 p.m., giving you ample time to explore the shelves and connect with fellow history buffs. Talks start at 7 p.m., with a $5 cover helping support this speaker series.
Andrew Hartman @ Leviathan Bookstore
Join us for a provocative conversation between Andrew Hartman, professor of history at Illinois State University and author of Karl Marx in America, and St. Louis journalist Devin Thomas O’Shea.
To read Karl Marx is to contemplate a world created by capitalism. People have long viewed the United States as the quintessential anti-Marxist nation, but Marx's ideas have inspired a wide range of people to formulate a more precise sense of the stakes of the American project. Historians have highlighted the imprint made on the United States by Enlightenment thinkers such as Adam Smith, John Locke, and Thomas Paine, but Marx is rarely considered alongside these figures. Yet his ideas are the most relevant today because of capitalism's centrality to American life.
In Karl Marx in America, historian Andrew Hartman argues that even though Karl Marx never visited America, the country has been infused, shaped, and transformed by him. Since the beginning of the Civil War, Marx has been a specter in the American machine. During the Gilded Age, socialists read Marx as an antidote to the unchecked power of corporations. In the Great Depression, communists turned to Marx in hopes of transcending the destructive capitalist economy. The young activists of the 1960s were inspired by Marx as they gathered to protest an overseas war. Marx's influence today is evident, too, as Americans have become increasingly attuned to issues of inequality, labor, and power.
After decades of being pushed to the far-left corner of intellectual thought, Marx's ideologies have crossed over into the mainstream and are more alive than ever. Working-class consciousness is on the rise, and, as Marx argued, the future of a capitalist society rests in the hands of the people who work at the point of production. A valuable resource for anyone interested in Marx's influence on American political discourse, Karl Marx in America is a thought-provoking account of the past, present, and future of his philosophies in American society.
Christian Naffziger @ Leviathan Bookstore
We’re celebrating the publication of the definitive book about a St. Louis legend, Adam Lemp and the Western Brewery—join us to meet the author and take home an autographed copy! This event is free, but reserved seating is available only for those who purchase the book in advance via this website.
Johann Adam Lemp ranks among the most influential figures in St. Louis history, the founder of a brewery that left an indelible mark on the city. But the story of the German-American founder of the famous Lemp Brewery still lies shrouded in mystery in the Gateway City. Newly uncovered legal documents, newspaper articles and recent scholarly research in Germany will weave the fascinating tale of a man that is far more complex and interesting than previously understood.
About the author: Christian Naffziger has a background in Renaissance and early modern painting, sculpture, and architecture, studying the art of Catholic Reformation Rome and Eighteenth Century Germany. For the last fifteen years, he has turned his scholarly research to the study of the history and built environment of the city of St. Louis, with a particular interest in the development of the German-American brewing industry in the Nineteenth Century. He has worked in various museums, including the National Gallery of Art and the Saint Louis Art Museum. His work has been published throughout America and Europe.
Unseen STL History: Inside City Museum
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. This month, Unseen STL digs into the origin story of the City Museum—not as legend, but as lived experience—through the voices of Max and Maria Cassilly, and with never-before-seen footage that reveals the messy, magical process behind one of St. Louis’s most beloved landmarks.
Mark your calendar for Thursday, June 19th, and meet us at Leviathan Bookstore for an evening of local lore and unexpected history. Doors swing open at 6:30 p.m., giving you ample time to explore the shelves and connect with fellow history buffs. The talk starts at 7 p.m., with a $5 cover.
Liz Chiarello @ Kirkwood Public Library
Join us for a compelling discussion with author Liz Chiarello as she delves into her groundbreaking book, Policing Patients: Treatment and Surveillance on the Frontlines of the Opioid Crisis. Through extensive research and interviews, Chiarello exposes how surveillance technologies are reshaping the practice of medicine, forcing doctors and pharmacists to navigate the fine line between providing care and policing their patients.
Unseen STL History: Digging Deep
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. (It will expand on this article on coal mining with more information about mining in STL proper.) 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.
Join us on Wednesday, May 15, at Leviathan Bookstore (3211 S. Grand Blvd.). Doors open at 6 p.m., giving you time to browse the shelves, grab a drink, and chat with fellow local history lovers. The talk begins at 7 p.m., with a $5 cover to support the venue.
Independent Bookstore Day
You’ll want to carve out time on Saturday, April 26 to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day. We, along with stores across the country, will be highlighting what makes us unique and worth applauding. It’s an all-day party we’re throwing for ourselves and you’re invited!
We’ll be handing out free Dad’s cookies for as long as they last and offering a couple of different bonuses with purchase. Spend $25 or more to get a free sticker, or spend at least $50 and get a free pick from our Blind Date with a Book Box.
In addition, we’ll be the hosts for a simple little scavenger hunt. Somewhere in the store will be secreted a Golden Ticket. If you’re the lucky finder, you’ll win a year’s-worth of free audiobooks, courtesy of our friends at Libro.fm!
After you come see us, we encourage you to bop around town and see what our fellow indie booksellers are up to. Drop back in before the end of the day and give us a rundown!
Unseen STL 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. For just a $5 cover at the door, you’ll hear from Dr. Andrew Theising, author of the new book Mid-Mod Mayor: How Raymond Tucker Shaped St. Louis, and Tim Tucker, the mayor's grandson and a longtime leader in local urban development. Together, they’ll explore how Mayor Tucker brought calm, competence, and forward-thinking to a city on the edge of transformation.
The Art of Patrick Weck
Followers of Leviathan Bookstore know that one of the things we're most excited about in our new space is a fantastic mural behind the counter, painted by St. Louis's own Patrick Weck. Patrick uses a variety of techniques to create paleoart, zoo habitat murals, science fiction scenes, and steampunk megafauna. On this evening, we'll be exhibiting a number of Patrick’s original paintings as well as his prints, comics, and zines.
Join us to raise a glass to the artist who created our mighty new Leviathan!
Unseen STL History: Baseball's Deep Roots in St. Louis
This month, we’re bringing two fascinating perspectives on St. Louis baseball history to the plate.
Adam Kloppe will explore a game-changing moment in Major League Baseball history. In 2024, MLB announced that Negro League statistics would officially be added to the Major League record book, finally giving legendary Black players the recognition they deserve. But this decision is about more than stats—it’s about honoring the talent, resilience, and innovation of the Negro Leagues. St. Louis played a major role in that history, from early professional Black teams in the 1880s to the only stadium built exclusively for Negro League play—and even a little-known Black women's baseball team.
James Crossley will dive into the deep connections he’s forged between baseball, books, and the city that lives and breathes the sport. His talk, Libraries and Diamonds: How a Lifetime of Balls, Bats, and Books Led One Man to America’s Last Baseball City, promises a unique journey through the literary and cultural side of the game.
Join us on March 20th at Leviathan Bookstore (3211 S. Grand Blvd., between Wyoming and Humphrey). Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the talks beginning at 7 p.m. A $5 cover charge supports the event. Parking on Grand is metered until 7 p.m., and there's a small metered parking lot next door to the south. Parking is free on the residential streets to either side of Grand, and there's a large free parking lot behind the businesses on the east side of Grand at Hartford, across the street and a couple of blocks north of the bookstore.
Source: https://substack.com/home/post/p-158567700
Unseen History
Unseen STL History Talks highlight the vital work of archivists and historians who uncover hidden stories about our city’s history and preserve them for future generations. From genealogical research to book conservation and music history, this month's speakers will explore the many ways historical records are safeguarded and studied. The discussion will span a diverse range of projects—from family Bibles to the history of St. Louis punk rock—offering a unique look at how the past is documented and remembered.
Join us on February 20th at Leviathan Bookstore (3211 S. Grand Blvd., between Wyoming and Humphrey). Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the talks beginning at 7 p.m. A $5 cover charge supports the event. Parking on Grand is metered until 7 p.m., and there's a small metered parking lot next door to the south. Parking is free on the residential streets to either side of Grand, and there's a large free parking lot behind the businesses on the east side of Grand at Hartford, across the street and a couple of blocks north of the bookstore.