What can the places around us tell us about who we are? In this episode of Celebrating Us, we explore the stories hiding in plain sight—from the materials and craftsmanship that shaped historic architecture, to the controversial design of an 1888 building that challenged expectations, to a forgotten cottage that found new purpose through preservation. These stories from the St. Louis area remind us that the buildings and places we share are more than landmarks—they are connections to the people, ideas, creativity, and history that came before us.

Look Up: Stories Behind St. Louis Architecture
From a historical perspective, there is much more to St. Louis architecture than the Arch, from the native clay bricks and limestone used to create it.

History Spotlight: Fagin Building
The Fagin Building, completed in 1888 in St. Louis, stirred controversy due to its eccentric design. Was it a horrible design or before it’s time?

Forgotten Cottage
Landmarks Association of St. Louis restored one of the oldest buildings in Soulard. Now it has a new purpose as the preservation advocacy group’s headquarters.