OCTOBER 25 - 31, 2012 • ST. LOUIS AMERICAN C5

By MelanieAdams

Be a Tourist in Your Own TownSt. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

In last week’s edition of The St. Louis American, there was a story about the History Museum’s project to put a Center for Community Stories on Delmar Ave. This new center was to serve as a space for the community to gather, share and record stories, and participate in programs that helped break down the racial barriers of the region. After much consideration, we decided not to build the new center. The programs we had intended to host there would be presented at the museum building on Lindell Boulevard.

I have repeatedly said in this column that I think I have the best job in the world. I work with creative and passionate staff members, students, volunteers, and interns. I am intellectually challenged on a daily basis by learning about St. Louis’s rich history through our exhibits and publications. And my favorite part of my job is helping the Museum make connections with individuals and community organizations to provide over 700 quality programs each year. In the face of a severe economic downturn, it made sense for the Museum to continue our commitment to the community and develop programs, not in a building off site, but in the original building dedicated to Thomas Jefferson.

Over the past six years, the Museum has developed a variety of new programs that reflect our mission. One of the first programs developed was collaboration with the local PBS station, KETC Channel Nine, to become a partner in the nationwide Community Cinema program. This program works with local venues to allow the showing of an Independent Lens documentary a month before its televised viewing. In addition to providing early access to the film, the program also offers educational materials as well as visits from film directors and producers. Over the past six years the Museum’s Community Cinema program has grown to be the largest in the country with an average of over 200 people attending each screening. Past documentaries topics include Black History Month, the Little Rock Nine, Masculinity and Hip Hop, and the African women leaders.

Another program that the Museum is proud to sponsor is the African American Genealogy series. The program came to us through its president, Charles Brown. He was looking for a location for his monthly meeting and thought the Museum would make a good partner. We thought so too and have enjoyed working with this energetic and exciting group. They bring in local and national genealogy experts to speak about the challenges of doing African American family research. This monthly program is an example of how the Museum likes to partner with organizations and provide quality programs free of charge to the community.

The final partnership I will mention is with the Black Rep. The Museum has worked with

this outstanding theater company on an irregular basis for years. When we began putting together the Performing Arts Series (called Missouri History Museum Presents), we knew it was important to have a diverse theater schedule and believed the Black Rep would make a great addition to the lineup. This year the Black Rep will be doing a play entitled Facing the Shadows which looks at the Underground Railroad in Maryland. This play goes well with both the Museum’s Civil War exhibit and the performing arts series’ theme of 2012-2013, Women.

Not only is the Black Rep working with Missouri History Museum Presents but also as part of our Theater in the Museum series. When the Museum began planning the Civil War exhibit, we thought it was important to make sure we had theater that reflected the different stories of the war. Not having a an African American actor on the staff, we reached out to the Black Rep company. They worked with us to not only write a play, Resurrection 150, about African American Civil War soldiers, but the Black Rep actors stage it each weekend at the Museum. This fall Resurrection 150 continues with the stories of African American women in the Civil War, written by Linda Kennedy.

There are numerous other programs the Museum has developed and implemented since our decision not to create a new space on Delmar. In the end, it is not about a building, but about strengthening community, developing new partnerships, and creating a safe space for community dialogues, all of which we do in our current location.

Delmar: The Racial and Economic Divide

Thursday, October 25th 7pmFREE

Join us for a discussion of the BBC video short The Delmar Divide

Facing the Shadow

The Black Rep

November 1st – 11th (Thurs-Sat at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm)

Set just before the Civil War, this play looks at the Free Women of Color Literary society of Baltimore, who face a potentially life-altering decision: whether or not to help a female slave escape to freedom.

See www.mohistory.org for ticket prices

The Black Rep will present Facing the Shadow at the Missouri History Museum November 1–11. Set just before the Civil War, this play looks at the Free Women of Color Literary society of Baltimore, who face a potentially life-altering decision: whether or not to help a female slave escape to freedom.

The power of community partnerships

St. Louis is tricked out with plenty of treats for boys and ghouls of all ages this season. From haunted houses to costume contests, from trick-or-treating to festive parties, here’s your guide to the best places to get a scare in St. Louis.

Not-So-Haunted House, The Magic House, October 26-28

Kids of all ages are invited to dress in their Halloween costumes and have a ghoulish good time trick-or-treating and getting autographs from more than 15 storybook characters from The Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland and more.

Boo at the zoo, Saint Louis Zoo, Through October 30

This non-scary, kid-friendly Halloween ex-perience is filled with laughs and adventurers. Enjoy spooktacular fun for families including Animal Encounters at the Emerson Children’s Zoo, Fireside Stories and a pirate tour through Sea Lion Sound, Big Cat Country and the Herpetarium.

Halloween Celebration, Grant’s Farm, October 25-27

Grant’s Farm offers a safe and festive way for families to celebrate fall traditions and Halloween with moonlight tram rides through the dark Deer Park, Halloween-themed animal and Mad Science shows, a DJ spinning spooky hits in the Bauernhof Courtyard and non-scary classic Halloween characters.

Haunted Hayloft,

Purina Farms, October 26-28

Enjoy some not-so-scary Halloween en-tertainment just for kids at the Purina farms Haunted Hayloft. Kids can go trick-or-treating, enjoy magic shows, face painting, storytelling, participate in a costume contest, experience high-flying canine performances and take a look at adoptable dogs.

A trilogy of terror-filled haunted houses make up St. Louis’-own Scarefest sites. Ac-claimed as the best haunted houses in the

U.S., the Scarefest locations include:

Scarefest: DarknessScarefest: Creepyworld Haunted Attraction

Scarefest: The Haunting of Lemp Brewery

Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS,

Six Flags St. Louis, October 5-28

Fright Fest, Six Flags St. Louis annual Halloween Bash, is fun for all ages. They’ll have electrifying street entertainment, haunted hayrides and thrilling haunted houses. Plus, experience your favorite rides in the dark

Lemp Mansion Halloween Bash, October 27

The Lemp Mansion hosts a spooky evening full of music, costumes, food and drinks. Along with a live band there will be food all night, costume contest and a four hour open bar so you can sip on some witch’s brew while danc-ing the night away. Reservations are required.

Halloween Bash, Central West End, October 27

The Central West End’s annual Halloween Bash is fun for all ages. During the day there’s trick-or-treating and other fun activities for kids. At night the adult’s can enjoy music, food, drinks and an incredible costume contest.

4th Annual Great Pumpkin Carve & Glow, Moonrise Hotel,

October 27Exercise your pumpkin carving skills at the

4th Annual Great Pumpkin Carve and Glow. The Moonrise Hotel and Eclipse Restaurant invite people of all ages to the free pumpkin carving festivities in the Delmar Loop. Pump-kins, basic carving tools and decorating materi-als will be provided

Muwahaaa! It’s Boo in the Lou Time