The City of St. Louis and nearby sections of Missouri and Illinois are full of reminders illustrating the role German-Americans played in the area's heritage and culture. Lasting Impressions:   German-Americans in St. Louis exhibit provides an ongoing exhibit of pictures, family histories, recommended websites, suggested readings, and other resources highlighting their contributions to life in the St. Louis area.

Information for the exhibit comes from several sources:

Holobeck, Noel C. The German-American heritage of St. Louis: A guide. St. Louis, MO, St. Louis Public Library, 1991, plus updated and supplementary information added by Jean E. Meeh Gosebrink, 2002.

A paper guide to over 50 sites, most within the city of St. Louis, along with a list of German street names and St. Louis Public Schools named after prominent German-Americans.

Gosebrink, Jean E. Meeh. The German-American heritage reading list. St. Louis, MO, St. Louis Public Library, 1991. Updated with selected titles published since 1991.

Recommended titles and brief descriptions of reading materials related to the German immigrants, their descendants, and their contributions to the American experience. Materials are available through the St. Louis Public Library.

The German-American Heritage Archives at St. Louis Public Library. St. Louis MO, St. Louis Public Library, 1991.

Excerpts from family histories of St. Louis area families with German speaking origins. The histories are taken from the German-American Heritage Society's collection currently housed at St. Louis Public Library.

Holt, Glen E.  St. Louis Street Index. Compiled by Glen E. Holt and Thomas A. Pearson.  St. Louis, MO, St. Louis Public Library, 1994.

List of streets in St. Louis, Missouri in 1994 with information on street orientation, street name origin, and neighborhood(s) through which the street runs. 

Exhibit Credits

The St. Louis Public Library gratefully acknowledges funding from the American Council on Germany to help in the creation and maintenance of this website exhibit Lasting Impressions:  German-Americans in St. Louis.

The Library also extends its appreciation to the authors and publishers who gave permission to use the cover art from their work.

Contributors to the Lasting Impressions:  German-Americans in St. Louis exhibit are: German-American Heritage Society and St. Louis Public Library staff and volunteers -- Jean E. Meeh Gosebrink (Special Collections), Cynthia Millar (History & Genealogy), Noel Holobeck (Special Collections), Karen Ridgeway (volunteer, Special Collections), Barbara Knotts (Technology Services), and Laura Liebertz (Technology Services).