Online Exhibits
The Steedman Architectural Collection
The Steedman Architectural Collection at the St. Louis Public Library is a small but remarkable library of influential and rare architectural publications.
Photography Through The Lens of St. Louis
Since its invention in the early 1800s, the camera has become a time machine of sorts. It possesses the unique power of capturing a singular moment in time - forever freezing the subject exactly as it was at that instant.
The Grand Tour
First seen as a "cultural finishing school" for privileged young British gentlemen, The Grand Tour of the 19th century included several months of European travel between the end of formal schooling and adulthood.
SLPL Then & Now
The “Then” photos in this exhibit come from the St. Louis Public Library’s Archives which are housed in the Rare Books and Special Collections Department at Central Library. The Library’s records date back to the founding of the St. Louis Public School Library.
Culinary Exhibit
This online exhibit will give you a "taste" of what is available in The Culinary Collection St. Louis Public Library. View a variety of cookbooks, recipes, and menus documenting the culinary history of St. Louis.
The Great Cyclone of 1896
The Great Cyclone remains the single deadliest incident in St. Louis history. The tornado cut a ten-mile swath of destruction that completely destroyed 311 buildings, heavily damaged 7,200 more and caused substantial harm to yet another 1,300. In a mere twenty minutes, 255 people were killed.
Central
December 9, 2012, marked the grand reopening of Central Library in downtown St. Louis after an extensive two-year renovation. Take a tour back in time and learn about Central Library's rich history that encompasses over 100 years.
Celebrating the Louisiana Purchase
The 1904 World's Fair (Louisiana Purchase Exposition) marked the 100th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, a monumental event in U.S. history. Fair organizers set out to celebrate that event and create their own monumental event. It seemed appropriate to set the Fair in St. Louis Missouri, at that time the fourth largest city in the country and part of the land covered by the Treaty.
Maps of Missouri
The St. Louis Public Library presents "Maps of Missouri" illustrating the many ways maps convey times, places, and events. Approximately 100 maps of Missouri cities, towns, counties and the state are included in the exhibit.
