Community Calendar

In the decades before the Civil War, Missouri’s unique position as a slave state bordering free states made it a flashpoint for escape attempts. Join us on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 1:00 pm when Dr. Charles Hotle explores the dramatic “slave stampedes,” large, coordinated efforts by enslaved people to flee across the Mississippi River into Illinois or north into Iowa. While some succeeded, many were thwarted, leaving behind court records and testimony that now offer rare insights into the lives, strategies, and networks of freedom seekers. This program examines what these stampedes reveal about the realities of slavery in Missouri, the workings of the Underground Railroad, and how exaggerated reports of such escapes fueled rising sectional tensions.
This program is free with limited availability in person and on Zoom. Reservations must be made in advance on our website, by calling the Museum at 314-421-4689, or by emailing info@fieldhousemuseum.org.

The Field House Museum is pleased to welcome author John C. Guenther. As a trained and experienced architect, Guenther will take listeners through the timeline of the Cathedral’s long and storied lifetime.
With a background in architecture, Guenther uses his book to highlight some of the Basilica’s most unique aspects. From the first settlers and the establishment of the city of St. Louis, to the construction of the Basilica itself, Guenther traces the Cathedral’s place in St. Louis history through its design and construction. Join us on Sunday, June 14th at 1:00pm, to learn about the long and wonderful history of one of St. Louis’s most beloved buildings!
This program is free with limited availability in person and on Zoom. Reservations must be made in advance on our website, by calling the Museum at 314-421-4689, or by emailing info@fieldhousemuseum.org.

The Field House Museum is pleased to welcome author John C. Guenther. As a trained and experienced architect, Guenther will take listeners through the timeline of the Cathedral’s long and storied lifetime.
With a background in architecture, Guenther uses his book to highlight some of the Basilica’s most unique aspects. From the first settlers and the establishment of the city of St. Louis, to the construction of the Basilica itself, Guenther traces the Cathedral’s place in St. Louis history through its design and construction. Join us on Sunday, June 14th at 1:00pm, to learn about the long and wonderful history of one of St. Louis’s most beloved buildings!
This program is free with limited availability in person and on Zoom. Reservations must be made in advance on our website, by calling the Museum at 314-421-4689, or by emailing info@fieldhousemuseum.org.

The Field House Museum is pleased to welcome author and historian James Erwin!
James Erwin will speak on his book Guerillas in Civil War Missouri at the Field House Museum, Saturday, July 18th at 1:00pm. As a border state, and one with deeply divided political sentiments, the Civil War was uniquely intimate in Missouri. Besides the 26 large battles fought in the state, Missouri was the setting for countless skirmishes. Citizens and soldiers alike took part in or fell victim to the guerrilla warfare that became a characteristic of Missouri’s Civil War struggle. James Erwin will walk listeners through the key people, places, and engagements of Missouri’s guerilla war.

This program is free with limited availability in person and on Zoom. Reservations must be made in advance on our website, by calling the Museum at 314-421-4689, or by emailing info@fieldhousemuseum.org.

About the Speaker:

Jim Erwin practiced law in St. Louis for 38 years. He is the author or co-author of eight books on various local history subjects, including the Civil War in Missouri, steamboat disasters, and 200 years of notorious crimes in Missouri. His latest book (with his wife Vicki) is Ulysses and Julia Grant’s Missouri Love Story, published by the History Press in 2025.