The Legacy of MLK Celebrated in Honor of 96th His Birthday at Missouri History Museum
The Missouri History Museum will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy with a weekend of learning, connection and community for all ages. The celebration starts Friday, January 17th, and culminates on the national holiday, Monday, January 20th. Programing is part of the African American History Initiative’s on-going work to explore the African American experience throughout the region. Dr. King would have been 96 years old in 2025.
MLK Community Celebration 2024 / photo ourtesy of the Missouri History Museum
Families are invited to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a series of engaging events throughout the holiday weekend. The celebration will feature youth activism workshops, meaningful conversations on race and social justice, storytelling, movement, and craft workshops.
Fox 2 Studio STL MLK Celebration 2024
The festivities will kick off on Friday, January 17, and Saturday, January 18, with History Exploration Days: Solidarity STL from 10am to 1pm. Participants will learn about local activists, explore important issues, and discover how various ideas intersect. The event will include interactive Youth Activism Workshops for children and teens, advocacy-inspired crafts, mutual aid service projects, and activities with community partners.
On Monday, January 20, a full day of events is planned
● Make-and-Takes (10am-4pm, Grand Hall): Design clothing that expresses personal identity and create paper tiles for a community mosaic.
● Step into the Story: Activism (10:30-11:00am, Lee Auditorium): A large-scale story time exploring activism and protest, concluding with a reading of the "I Have a Dream speech.
● Youth Activism Workshop: The Three Strands of Solidarity (10:30-11:30am and 11:45am-12:45pm, AT&T Multipurpose Room): Hands-on activities and discussions for ages 6-18 examining historic and modern social issues.
MLK Community Celebration Crafts / photo courtesy of the Missouri History Museum
● Step into the Story: Civil Rights Heroes (2-2:30pm, Lee Auditorium): Explore children's books about Dr. King and lesser-known civil rights heroes.
● Movement Workshop with Mama Lisa (2:45-3:15pm, AT&T Multipurpose Room): Learn about A. Phillip Randolph and Dr. King through music, movement, and storytelling.
● Ahimsa: A Yoga Practice (4:30pm): An all-ages, all-abilities yoga class led by The Collective STL, inspired by Dr. King's principle of nonviolence.
These events are part of the African American History Initiative (AAHI), which strives to promote stories that explore various aspects of the African American experience throughout the St. Louis region. The AAHI supports the collection of unique artifacts and materials concerning historically underrepresented communities, the development of future museum professionals, and the preservation of African American resources and history in the greater St. Louis area.
"Preserving St. Louis' rich Black history is not just an obligation; it is an essential act of acknowledging and celebrating the diverse narratives that have shaped our region," said Rochelle Caruthers, director of the African American History Initiative at Missouri Historical Society.
For more information on MLK weekend activities visit mohistory.org/mlk-celebration.
About the Missouri Historical Society
The Missouri Historical Society (MHS) has been active in the St. Louis community since 1866. Today it serves as the confluence of historical perspectives and contemporary issues. MHS operates the Missouri History Museum Library & Research Center, and Soldiers Memorial Military Museum. MHS is funded by the St. Louis City and County taxpayers through the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District (ZMD) and by private donations. To find out more, visit mohistory.org/society.