A St. Louis Museum Resurrects an Erased Neighborhood

The Missouri History Museum's latest exhibition, "Mill Creek Valley: An Urban Renewal Story," explores the history of a vibrant African American neighborhood in St. Louis that was demolished in the name of urban renewal. Mill Creek Valley was a thriving hub of Black culture, businesses, and community until the 1950s, when the city launched a large-scale redevelopment project that displaced thousands of residents, primarily people of color. The exhibition uses historical photographs, personal stories, and interactive displays to shed light on this often-overlooked chapter of St. Louis' past. The project aimed to revitalize the area but instead resulted in the erasure of a vibrant neighborhood and the disruption of many lives. The exhibition serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of urban renewal policies on marginalized communities and the importance of preserving and celebrating the histories of neighborhoods that have been lost to development.