How St. Louis Shaped American Civil Rights

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 the it all for the last 250 years.
Part 3: In a 1964 article in the St. Louis American, Judge Nathan B. Young argued that St. Louis—more than any other city in the US—was pre-eminent in the country’s struggle for civil rights, based on the number of Supreme Court cases that originated here and the city’s long history of protest that led to significant change. Join Curator of Urban Landscape and Community Identity Gwen Moore for this look back the key Supreme Court cases that started in St. Louis and dramatically impacted American civil rights.