St. Louis is Rich...in History - Discover Our Treasures In a New Book, "Mapping St. Louis"

October 11, 2024 Grayling Holmes

In his first book, St. Louis native, Andrew Hahn, explores St. Louis from the early days in 40 rare maps.

by Julie Lally / Photos from Mapping St. Louis

Have you ever wondered what St. Louis looked like before the Gateway Arch was here? Ever thought about what the landscape was like? The cityscape was quite different. There was no Clayton. There was no Ladue. There was no Chesterfield or Wildwood. While the land existed, these places were a vast wilderness beyond the city borders. Now, you can see St. Louis from its very beginnings by way of maps — rarely seen before in a new coffee table book hot off the presses — Mapping St. Louis.

Mapping St. Louis, the new book by Andy Hahn, charts the growth of our city from its founding in the 1760s to the present day. It does so by interweaving 40 maps along with short essays, detailed views, and captioned illustrations that provide stories and history that are only hinted at on each map. Many different styles of maps are featured—maps for exploration and navigation, pocket and atlas maps, development and planning maps, pictorial maps, and fantasy maps. The 40 maps are reproduced as large, coffee table size. Each page will allow in order to afford the viewer as close a look as possible. Mapping St. Louis is your guide to charting St. Louis’s rich history, and may spark ideas about where the city may be heading.

In the digital age, maps are more important and accessible than ever. Today, thanks to mobile devices, maps literally tell you where you are going at the touch of a finger or the sound of your voice saying, “Siri, take me to XYZ address.” Instantly, a map appears on your car console or mobile device and shows you how to get from point A to Z, her voice guiding you at every turn. But maps were just as important in the past. They not only helped you navigate the world, but they also guided future plans and dreams.

Mapping St. Louis charts the growth of the city from its founding in the 1760s to the present day. It does so by interweaving 40 maps along with short essays, detailed views, and captioned illustrations that provide stories and history that are only hinted at on each map. Many different styles of maps are featured—maps for exploration and navigation, pocket and atlas maps, development and planning maps, pictorial maps, and fantasy maps. The 40 maps are reproduced as large as each page will allow in order to afford the viewer as close a look as possible. Informative essays highlight the importance and the story behind each map.

Historical themes explored include Colonial Era (1760–1810s); the Fur Trade Era and westward expansion (1820s–1850s); the Civil War and Reconstruction (1860s); the Gilded Age (1870s–1910s); Post–World War I, the Great Migration, and the Great Depression (1920s–1930s); Post–World War II and Urban Renewal (1940s–1970s); and 21st Century St. Louis (2010s–2020s).

Mapping St. Louis: A History of the Gateway City in 40 Rare Maps, is available wherever books are sold, hardcover, 9 x 12, 176 pages, $39.95

About the Author

Andy Hahn is a 7th generation St. Louisan who has been passionate about history and maps since he was a kid. As a student at St. Louis University, he interned at the Cupples House, where he was bitten by the old house bug. Since 2003, he has worked as director of the Campbell House Museum, an 1851 townhouse in downtown St. Louis. Andy has served on the American Association of State and Local History Historic House Committee and the boards of the Lafayette Park Conservancy and the Friends of Tower Grove Park.

**Scheduled Events for Mapping St. Louis: A History of the Gateway City in 40 Rare Maps:**

Note: It is advisable to check with the event venue for confirmation a few days ahead of a book signing or presentation.

Book Signing — Launch Event

Sunday, October 20, from 3 – 6 p.m.

Campbell House Museum

1508 Locust St, St. Louis, MO 63103

(314) 421-0325

Free and open to the public.