How St. Louis Shaped the Soundtrack of America

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 growth 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 4: Celebrate St. Louis’s musical innovators and icons that built—and rebuilt—the soundtrack of America throughout the 20th century, from ragtime to jazz to rock ‘n’ roll. Public Historian Andrew Wanko explores this history with live musical accompaniment by The Barrelhouse Sinners, illustrating the many ways in which St. Louisans helped construct the sonic architecture of our country.